UMass-Dartmouth Chief Lays Out Money Problems

DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The new chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth says the school faces a $15 million deficit this fiscal year that will require some tough decisions

Chancellor Divina Grossman, who’s been on the job just a few months, told students, staff and faculty at a town hall meeting on campus Thursday that some cost-saving measures are already under way.

She says the school has implemented hiring freezes except in strategic areas, permanently eliminated certain positions, renegotiated contracts with some vendors and will defer payment to the school’s reserve fund.

She says the school will review academic offerings to determine whether the university is providing in-demand courses and majors. That drew fire from faculty concerned that it could mean the elimination or merger of some academic departments.