The president of Western Kentucky University says the most recent budget reductions to offset a $15 million shortfall were less severe than anticipated, but warns more employee layoffs are on the horizon.
WKU President Timothy Caboni says the past several weeks spent reducing personnel across four campuses have been challenging. The initial budget reduction estimates announced in February indicated that as many as 100 filled positions would need to be eliminated. However, the actual number of full-time employees laid off was 62. The university also cut 57 vacant positions.
In an email to faculty and staff on Monday, President Caboni said WKU is a smaller institution that it was five to ten years ago, but the school is positioning its budget to match the revenues generated each year. Dr. Caboni warned that another round of layoffs is likely once the state budget is finalized next month. He said state funding and pension obligations will further impact the university’s budget.
Click here for a list of positions eliminated by department during the first round of budget reductions. Those employees are being allowed to remain on the job through June.
