BUDGET CUT: The University of North Carolina expects a $1.7 million cut in state funds this year, most from administrative and library units. The cuts are the result of a “span of control” study done by the Office of State Budget and Management. The study called for no more than seven administrative reporting levels within divisions and an average of 5.8 people per supervisor. The university has as many as 11 reporting levels and a supervisor-to-employee ratio of less than 1:5.8.

UNDERGROUND FRESHMEN: The University of Arizona is building a new Freshman Center completely underground, thus saving 25 percent in cooling costs. The building is designed as a “one-stop center” for UA’s 4,500 freshmen. The first-year students will have many of their classes inside, be able to consult tutors and advisors there and use the 300 Internet-linked computers in the Information Commons.

NON-RESIDENT TUITION: A portion of the half- billion dollars needed to repair the “crumbling infrastructure” at the University of California at Davis will be funded through increases in out-of-state tuition. Student tuition increased by 7 percent this year from last year and will increase by 4.5 percent next year, to $9,384.

TENURE TRACK: A new study at the University of Pittsburgh shows that while the percentage of tenured faculty hasn’t changed much over the years, the percentage of those eligible for tenure has changed dramatically. In 1974, 42 percent of full-time faculty had tenure, compared with 40 percent in 1996. However the number of individuals in the tenure stream dropped from 35 percent to 12 percent during the same time period. Faculty ineligible for tenure accounted for 48 percent of full-time faculty in 1996, up from 22 percent in 1974.

KENTUCKY WOMEN: More women are getting hired into top positions at the University of Kentucky, according to a recent report by the UK Affirmative Action Office. During the past five years there has been a 5.5 percent increase in women hired into executive, administrative and managerial positions and a 2.4 percent increase in the percentage of women hired into faculty positions.

PIECE OF THE ACTION: The University of Arizona will have no problem getting the floor replaced in the arena where its men’s basketball team plays. A contracting company has agreed to install the new floor in exchange for the right to sell pieces of the old one. The company expects not only to pay for the job, which will cost $350,000, but make money to boot. Pieces of the old floor will sell for $15 to $125.

COMPUTER BEEPS: Students waiting to use a computer at a busy computer lab at UCLA don’t have to mill around in the doorway anymore. The university recently purchased beepers that the students can carry and be notified when it’s their turn. Average wait at the lab is 10 to 15 minutes. ¶

FAST ANSWERS: Faculty and staff needing quick answers to a variety of questions at the University of North Carolina have a new source to turn to. The university recently installed a phone line for questions such as where to find a room for a meeting or where to report that a recycling bin is overflowing. The line is called FASTOC (for Faculty and Staff Operations Concerns) and will run until the end of the year as a pilot program. After a period of evaluation UNC will decide whether to continue the program.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES: Students who live in a dorm designed as a learning community get better grades, drop out less frequently, participate more in campus life, study more and drink alcohol less than their peers, according to a new study at the University of Wisconsin. The study compared 240 students who live in a learning community with freshmen at large. The residence hall has a dozen faculty fellows who keep office hours, teach classes and make social contact with students. Peer learning partners, who serve as mentors for students and spearhead social and volunteer events, have replaced house fellows.

LUNCH FORUM: The University of North Carolina has made one of its busy food service sites the spot for some lively discussions. The Community Lunch Forum is a weekly event featuring a discussion on a current topic led by a faculty member with expertise in the day’s subject. The forum is open to faculty, staff and students and is organized by the Campus Ministries Association.