Budget Update April 29, 2009

The following message was distributed on behalf of Senior Vice President and Provost Jim Bean:

Colleagues:

Our sister institution in Corvallis just released an email describing the provisions for contract renewal for next year.  We thought it best to take this opportunity to update you on our processes.  We should note that OSU is more closely linked with state funding because of their land grant mission and statewide programs (like extension).  While the contract structure they have proposed may be appropriate for their situation, we do not feel that we have the information necessary to detail contracts yet.  We do not know the extent of cuts in state allocations, nor do we know how many students will return for next fall.  We may not know these important parameters until mid-summer.

We are developing an interim solution for contracts that balances the need for flexibility with the desire for security and are consulting with the Senate Budget Committee, Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC), and Budget Planning Committee on these issues.  The latter was put in place specifically for this reason and includes representatives from the Senate, FAC, and Chair of the OA Council.

Here is what we do know:

1. Avoiding layoffs is still a high priority and there is no layoff plan in place.  There are scenarios where layoffs may be necessary, but there are others where there are none.

2. If layoffs do become necessary in some areas, there may be opportunities elsewhere in the institution for displaced staff members, classified or OA.

3. We will begin processing contracts when we have the information necessary to know what must go in them.  The normal time for processing most staff renewal contracts is late May, so we are not yet late.  If you have not gotten a contract yet, that is not unusual.  Most everyone is in the same boat.

If you have questions, please contact Linda King at 346-2966 or llking@uoregon.edu.

Regards, Jim