SOU President Rick Bailey’s plan affects more than 80 positions
Southern Oregon University on Thursday will unveil a cost-saving plan that includes cuts to more than 80 university positions, according to university officials.
SOU president Rick Bailey plans to meet with faculty and staff and share the plan during a town hall meeting, set for 9 a.m. today in the Stevenson Union’s Rogue River Room, according to a news release. The plan calls for ultimately making more than $9 million in “recurring cost reductions,” in addition to $3.6 million in reductions this year, the release said.
Of the total affected positions outlined in the plan, 24 will result in terminations of current employees, with the remainder “achieved through a combination of current job vacancies, retirements, voluntary departures and non-renewable contracts,” the release said. Among the overall affected positions detailed, 27 would be to faculty positions, with 30 classified positions and 25 unclassified positions also among the cuts.
University officials plan to present the plan to the SOU Board of Trustees on March 17, with the board scheduled to “take action” on the plan at an April 21 meeting, the release said.
“We all recognize that this is much more than a bookkeeping task,” a prepared statement from Bailey reads. “We are talking about people and programs that are woven into our institution’s fabric, and we are doing everything possible to be considerate, compassionate and caring.
“But the fact of the matter is that our current financial structure is not sustainable. Our overall realignment process is built on a foundation of creativity and optimism, but we have to begin by adopting the premise that revenue will be equal to or greater than expenses for the long term.”
Officials pointed to the university’s “longstanding reliance on the combination of state appropriations and tuition revenue” as flaws in its fiscal model.
