By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
In a letter to Bowling Green State University faculty and staff, President Rodney Rogers conceded that some university employees will lose their jobs because of COVID-19 related financial difficulties.
“Beyond the short-term reductions, we will need permanent budget reductions to preserve the financial viability of the University,” he said.
“As we continue to plan and explore many options, we now understand that we are unable to avoid reductions in the number of employees,” Rogers said.
The administration has been working with he leadership of Faculty Senate, Administrative Staff Council and Classified Staff Council. This is “the most difficult decision to make.”
These cuts will be made in a way that will not compromise “the educational experience or the quality of a BGSU degree.”
Rogers said more details will be announced in two weeks.
The university reached of memorandum of understanding putting off the final decision on the fate of 60 non-tenure track faculty with three years or less of service. The Faculty Association has insisted all 60 Qualified Rank Faculty are essential to the university’s academic mission and should be retained.
In a letter to members, the union asserted: “Our talented colleagues teach hundreds of sections of undergraduate and graduate courses. They provide thousands of service hours for their students, academic units, colleges, and the university. They conduct research and creative projects that advance knowledge in their respective fields. Losing them would severely diminish the university’s ability to deliver the internationally recognized, high-quality education for which BGSU has justifiably become known.”
The letter also stated: “If BGSU is to make it through this crisis as a robust university that continues to attract excellent students because of its internationally recognized high-quality education, the administration must reappoint our 60 QRF colleagues. Not doing so would allow this crisis to damage the value of BGSU’s contribution to the public good and its commitment to its far-reaching community.”
Also furloughs have been discussed for administrators and staff.
The university is trying to address a $27 million shortfall on the Bowling Green campus. The shortfall comes from an expected 20 percent cut in state support as well an expected decline in enrollment.
Deans are planning to permanently eliminate most unfilled positions and positions that become open because of retirements or resignations. Also, “the University will cease funding various initiatives and activities that are not critical to our future success, and reduce administrative structures.”
The colleges will be expected to cut spending by 8.5 percent while all administrative divisions will see 12.5 percent reductions.
The university will continue to honor the faculty contract.
Discussions between the university and the faculty union leadership did not “find common ground.”
