University of Missouri Chancellor Alexander N. Cartwright, Vice Chancellor Rhonda Gibler for Finance and Interim Provost Jim Spain announced budget cuts for the upcoming 2019 fiscal year, which begins July 1. This included a general revenue reallocation of $45 million, with cuts ranging from 5 to 12 percent across departments at MU.
As a result of the cuts, the university eliminated more than 185 positions. While most were vacant, 30 eliminations are layoffs of current staff. Additionally, earlier this year, fewer than 10 non-tenure track faculty members were informed their contracts would not be renewed for the coming school year. Cartwright said these cuts were made with the need to maintain services crucial to students in mind.Loading...
Despite these cuts, the university budget still falls $3.5 million short of breaking even.
Gibler said the budget situation has improved since the winter, when early estimates suggested cuts may need to be much greater.
“We were looking at scenarios of 70 million or more and to be at 49 [million], although, as the chancellor said, involves incredibly difficult decisions, it still feels like a better place to be than 70 [million].”
University officials say they will make up the shortfall with one time funds, which they will try to recoup in the 2020 fiscal year.
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