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The number of jobs on campus may have been affected this summer, but members of the administration are trying to ensure that the quality of education at SIUC is not diminished.
Despite a dim outlook, the Association of Civil Service Employees continues to shine the light on alternatives to the 82 layoffs handed out by the University two weeks ago. The layoffs are just one repercussion SIUC tackled after being hit with a $20 million budget cut for the 2004 fiscal year, among other complications.
The layoffs, which included 31 ACSE employees, came as little surprise to many on campus, who were aware there would be some changes following the budget cut. Members of ACSE even had some idea that they would personally be hit by these lay-offs. However, they could not be certain of anything until they received the message that officially proclaimed their fate.
Those laid off received the message from the University last week, and, according to Vice Chancellor for Administration Glenn Poshard, the administration has conducted several meetings to develop the best options for those who have been laid off.
ìWhat we have to attempt to do is identify the bumping process due to seniority and make people aware,î Poshard said. ìOnce theyíre alert as to the job possibilities, theyíll have every right to fill these jobs.î
Thereís no way to know whatís going to happen until these people come through Human Resources. The University is going to do everything to minimize any effects and impact on the quality of communication at the University.î
Employees have spent time collaborating to find an efficient manner to save the at-risk positions, while still providing the percentage of the overall salaries intended to be deposited back into the schoolís dwindling budget.
In addition to the options to layoffs offered by the ACSE, such as job sharing and job furloughing, the University also has the option of using currently laid-off workers as replacements in vacant positions.
There are currently 250 vacant positions on campus, which have been previously filled by both temporary and student workers. Many suggest these positions should be given to workers that have been laid off and are presently in need of employment.
Those who feel recent raises are inconsiderate when taking into account the layoffs of several campus employees have made the issue even further complex.
Recent salary increases include promotions in the media and communications department, where three workers received raises. Despite criticisms, University spokeswoman Sue Davis emphasizes the fact that these employees are fully deserving of the increase because they are taking on new responsibilities and duties in their area.
Although Morteza Daneshdoost, the president of the SIUC Faculty Association, showed strong support for members of ACSE desperately searching for an alternative to layoffs, there were some who did not back Daneeshdoost in his show of support. These individuals are not questioning his concern for staff in the ACSE organization, but, instead, his concern for anyone outside of the faculty union.
There are those that claim the implementation of the facultyís increase is just as harmful to the University budget as any other raise, an argument Daneshdoost is quick to disagree with.
He points out that, although instated at the beginning of July, the 2-percent raise received by faculty members has been obtained through attrition, and although members of the faculty were not laid off, they were affected by these changes.
ìWe have lost approximately 15 faculty positions compared to this time last year,î said Daneshdoost, a professor in the College of Engineering. ìThis accounts for more than $1 million less for bargaining members in the unit pool.î
ìAlthough we donít get laid off, our [faculty] numbers have been continually dropping since the mid ëí90s. People who think we are not affected are not accurate.î
Despite fear from ACSE employees over upcoming layoffs, president Ruth Pommier said she is optimistic that employment will be found for nearly all of the laid-off workers, with only those ìwith the very least seniority unable to find alternative hiring.î
