With Emporia State University facing a significant budget shortfall heading into the upcoming academic year, difficult decisions have had to be made including the termination of certain positions.
During a public town hall via Zoom Tuesday morning, President Allison Garrett announced the university has cut just over 20 positions. Four of those positions were filled while the remainder were vacant positions.
President Garrett says the decision to eliminate the positions does not reflect individual performance.
The university announced earlier this year that it is facing a $2.2 million budget shortfall as the 2020 fall semester. Because of this, a request was made for all departments to review their own budgets and make recommendations, some of which included the elimination of certain positions.
Garrett added in her comments that budget cuts amongst higher learning institutions have become rampant recently across the country. She adds that while cutting $2.2 million is not an easy task she is grateful the needed cut was not larger.
However; President Garret followed this statement saying that depending on fall enrollment numbers and developments at the state level in regards to higher education funding, the $2.2 million which has been identified, may not be enough.
Garrett also announced Tuesday that the university will be undergoing a “hiring frost” for the foreseeable future, however, the university may alter those plans if a crucial opening develops within a department. This tactic differs from other higher learning institutions that have placed a total freeze on all hirings amid the ongoing budget-cutting process.
If a crucial position becomes vacant department heads will need to work with their Vice-President to gain approval for filling said position.
Currently, the university is planning to have the majority of their staff return to work as soon as Aug. 3 barring any major developments on the COVID-19 front. Emporia State University will be releasing guidelines regarding large scale campus events, both for students and the general public, later this week.
