UI, UNI plan no layoffs for 2010-11

University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa leaders don't plan on layoffs next year, but Iowa State University officials said some layoffs are likely in cutting the budget.

Just how many layoffs there may be at ISU is still unknown, President Gregory Geoffroy said Thursday. There will be a number of job cuts but not all will come from layoffs, he said, as officials also will use attrition, retirements and shifting people to different jobs.

The three university presidents updated the state Board of Regents about 2010-11 budget plans Thursday during a meeting in Iowa City. The regents will approve the budgets in June.

UI President Sally Mason said the UI will continue its temporary reduction in employee retirement contributions – from 10 percent to 8 percent - through June 30, 2011, and also will eliminate paper U-bills to faculty and students, close several satellite libraries on campus, and rely on more energy efficiencies to cut the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

ISU and UNI's budget plans increase back to 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, employee retirement contributions.

The UI plan also calls for a 1 percent budget reduction to all units, to reallocate $5.1 million, and an additional .5 percent reduction to academic units, to generate another $1.5 million. That money will be used to hire new faculty and fund average 2 percent salary increases, and student retention initiatives such as living learning communities, Mason said.

“We want to manage down the budget gradually so there will be no cliff, no cliff effect,” Mason said.

The regent universities lost about $153 million in state appropriations in the past two years due to budget cuts. At the same time, all three presidents expect very strong enrollments this fall.

The UNI budget includes organizational restructuring, program eliminations or changes and increased collaborations for efficiency. ISU's plan includes some job reductions and combining or eliminating several programs, including cutting the Saturday MBA program and reducing by about 40 percent the sociology department budget.

Faculty and staff leaders from the three universities said salary increases and investing in strong programs will help boost morale and maintain quality.

“I think I speak for all in saying that instituting a salary policy this year that allows for increases is essential,” UI Staff Council President Amber Seaton said.