Budget Troubles Force Layoffs at Southern University
Filed in HBCUs on December 19, 2011
In October, Southern University in Baton Rouge declared a financial emergency due to declining enrollments and cuts in appropriations from the state government. As a result of the declaration, Chancellor James Llorens announced that all employees earning more than $30,000 a year will receive a furlough during the academic year which will reduce their pay by 10 percent. The furloughs include tenured faculty. In another cost cutting move, the university decided to hold no classes on Fridays.
Now Chancellor Llorens has announced that nearly 90 university employees will lose their jobs. The layoffs will result in a 10 percent reduction in the number of faculty on campus. In addition, there will be layoffs in the administration, human resources, maintenance, and information technology staff. The cuts will results in about $8 million in savings during the 2012-13 academic year.
