The president of Western Kentucky University unveiled phase two of the school’s budget cuts on Thursday. WKU President Timothy Caboni says this second round of cuts will result in $14 million in savings. The two rounds of budget cuts amount to $27 million.
The second round of cuts includes 10 filled staff positions and the elimination of 20 vacant positions. Of those 20, 12 are faculty and eight are staff. The specific positions will be announced in about week, after employees are notified.
Caboni said he avoided across-the-board cuts, but instead asked deans and division heads to recommend positions for elimination.
“I would stay there’s not a pattern based upon revenue generation or expenditure. But we did try to protect those areas focused on enrollment, retention, persistence graduation and also academic areas," said Caboni. 'So what you’ll see when the position list is released is that they are spread across the enterprise.”
Employees who are eliminated will receive full pay and benefits through June 30.
In the first round of budget cuts, WKU eliminated 119 positions. Of those, 62 were full-time employees and 57 were vacant positions.
President Caboni said no additional staff cuts are expected in the upcoming two-year budget.
Changes also include a reorganization in the information technology division. Oversight will shift to the division of finance and administration with the retirement of the vice president for information technology.
A new division of enrollment and student experience is being created, which will merge the offices of admissions, registrar, financial aid and student advising.
The university is also closing the WKU Floral Shop on May 6. However, the floral design program will continue.
