Nearly 75 faculty and staff at the University of New Hampshire received notices Tuesday that in 45 days, their employment will end.
“Like many universities, UNH is challenged by intense competition for enrollment, as well as increased costs,” said Tania deLuzuriaga, executive director of public relations, in an email to the Union Leader. “Last fall, we announced plans to reduce expenses by approximately $14 million, and personnel cuts are unfortunately necessary to help us achieve these savings.”
Each affected employee will receive severance pay, continuation of health care benefits and job placement services, she continued. Virtual faculty, extension offices and staff and employees from the Durham and Manchester campuses have been affected. Sources said the majority of those impacted work on the university’s flagship campus in Durham.
“The decision to reduce our workforce is not one we take lightly,” deLuzuriaga said.
In October, President James Dean issued a statement that said, due to declining undergraduate enrollment, the university was experiencing increased financial strain. As a result, department heads were told to look at their annual budgets and recommend cuts to services and personnel.
DeLuzuriaga could not comment on how much of the $14 million is being saved through budget cuts.
“Employee compensation and benefits are the university’s largest expense line and, therefore, must be part of a budget reset of this magnitude,” Dean said in a statement Tuesday. “ ... Today’s actions will also affect our remaining workforce. Valued colleagues will be missed, and the university will look different moving forward.”
This could mean changing how departments operate by stopping some practices, consolidating some offices and ending some programs and activities, he continued.
Dean and members of the executive committee will be available during a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., to share more information about finances and budget resets and take questions from the community.
“By addressing these challenges head-on, we are establishing a solid and sustainable financial foundation to ensure the success of our academic, research, and outreach programs and activities that are fundamental to our core mission and the exceptional UNH experience,” Dean said.
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