GRAND FORKS (AP) - The lost revenue from three years of enrollment declines at the University of North Dakota might eventually lead to budget cuts in future years.

"Tuition shortfalls can be absorbed for the remainder of this year … However, shortfalls are likely to impact the (Fiscal Year 2009) Budget," UND Provost Greg Weisenstein wrote in a recent memo to academic deans.

UND's enrollment peaked at slightly more than 13,000 students in 2004. Last fall, the university reported a fall enrollment of 12,559 students, down 2.1 percent from the previous year.

University administrators discussed making midyear budget reductions to offset tuition revenue lost from this year's enrollment drop, UND Budget Director Alice Brekke said.

They determined that revenue could be made up in other ways, including reallocating revenue from the school's endowment, she said.

"As enrollment goes up and down, you shift your resources to where they're needed," UND President Charles Kupchella said. "This year, we did have a slight drop, so with that comes some revenue you don't get. But it was such a small amount that there won't be much real impact unless it persists into future years."

Brekke said that as officials plan for the next fiscal year, "there will be discussion about where we're projecting enrollment to be and where we're projecting tuition collection to be, and our (2009) spending plan will reflect those discussions."

If the university does trim its 2009 budget, Brekke said, it likely would move money away from departments where an enrollment drop has reduced the need for funding.