KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Missouri system announced Friday it has started taking several steps to address budget shortfalls in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the steps take Friday:
- 49 employees were laid off; 32 of which were in MU Health Care;
- School of Medicine faculty pay cuts of 10 percent for one to three months depending on salary structure;
- School of Medicine staff pay cuts of 10 percent for three months or a one-week furlough;
- 195 employees have voluntarily taken pay reductions totaling $800,000;
- 390 UM system leaders, senior administrators and other employees have volunteered for pay reductions totaling $1.5 million.
“We are grateful to those who have worked to support the mission of the university,” UM System President and interim University of Missouri - Columbia Chancellor Mun Choi said Friday in a release. “We have the utmost respect for these employees and will provide services, support and transition packages during this difficult time.”
The system is attempting to offset the loss of $17 million state funding, refunds due to students affected by the pandemic, and other increased costs in the current budget year.
“It’s clear the effects of this crisis will present a long-term funding challenge for us and higher institutions across the country,” Choi said in the release. “Temporary measures will not address the budget situation or protect the mission of the university. We must respond in fundamental ways, re-evaluate our structure and invest in priorities that are important to our future. This will mean re-alignment, restructuring and loss of positions.”
The university anticipates needing to take additional measures, and plans further announcements every Friday.
