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LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas has given notice to 13 employees and will eliminate up to 38 vacant positions on its Lawrence campus, officials said today. The action is a result of a $1.2 million, or 1 percent, budget cut contained in Gov. Bill Graves' statewide allotment reductions announced in August.
The latest layoffs will not close any campus units and affect only non-teaching positions. They are in addition to 22 layoffs and 32 vacant position eliminations on the Lawrence campus in June in response to the initial $7.4 million, or 3 percent, reduction in the university's overall state budget at the start of the fiscal year.
"Cutting staff positions and operating expenses to meet the 4 percent budget reduction so far this year has been painful," said Lawrence campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor David Shulenburger.
"Under the additional budgetary constraints dictated by the allotment cut, campus units have had to again prioritize activities and make difficult decisions. In several cases, this regrettably has required giving notice to staff members. We will continue to evaluate our operations for further efficiencies, while protecting the academic mission."
The university's Human Resources division is offering all available assistance to the employees, Shulenburger said. In all cases, employees are receiving more notification time than state and university regulations require.
Eight of the 13 layoffs affect classified or state civil service staff. They include two security officers, a maintenance repairman, a microcomputer technician, and four administrative assistants or specialists. In one case, the classified staff member's position is being reduced to half time, not eliminated.
The effective date of termination for the classified employees varies by position. Under state regulations, classified employees who are part of the permanent staff receive first consideration for other university positions for which they are eligible.
The five unclassified layoffs are non-teaching positions and include three administrative support positions, a software application consultant and a research assistant. In one case, the employee's position is being reduced to 75 percent time. The effective date of these terminations is June 30, 2003.
Lawrence campus units have identified 38 vacant positions for elimination, 19 classified and 17 unclassified. The actual number of vacant positions to be eliminated will depend on resignations or retirements that may occur during the rest of the fiscal year.
In June the Lawrence campus laid off 22 employees - 10 classified and 12 unclassified. All but two of the classified employees have been placed in other jobs.
Budget reduction measures in June also included cutting operating funds and closing or reorganizing several units. In March, the university's Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kan., and the School of Medicine campus in Wichita eliminated positions, closed two programs, cut operating and equipment funds, and reduced library hours by two hours daily as well as the number of clinical outreach flights within the state.
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