Sent: 2009-11-13
From: EIU President William Perry
To: Students, Employees
Subject: Proposed University Policy
Members of the Campus Community:
As we approach the midpoint of the fiscal year, the state has not made any payments towards our state appropriated funds. Although delayed, I am confident that we will eventually receive our state appropriated payments for FY10. The outlook for our FY11 budget is not as clear when we look at the budgetary situation in the state of Illinois. It is prudent to look carefully at expenditures and to review the actions which I have outlined in earlier emails:
- Currently, only vacancies critical to accomplishing our mission will be filled.
- Currently, operational expenditures will be made conservatively.
- Currently, we continue to seek cost savings.
I also stated that, depending on our budgetary situation, future actions could include:
- Reduction of non-safety related maintenance
- Postponement of filling some vacant positions
- Reduction of spending on programmatic and equipment needs
- Reduction of summer offerings
- Reduction of utility expenditures
- Implementation of some layoffs
For the effectiveness of operations, furloughs are preferable to layoffs. Generally speaking, a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of absence during which an employee would not perform his or her usual and customary job duties. It is my hope that we will not face fiscal constraints necessitating the use of either furloughs or layoffs. However, if we do, then these actions must be governed by policies and rules. Although we have policies and rules for layoffs, policies and rules for furloughs at EIU do not exist. The State Universities Civil Service System has proposed furlough rules and the University of Illinois has established an interim furlough policy. Development of a furlough policy for Eastern Illinois University is underway.
Today, I submitted a draft furlough policy to the Council on University Planning and Budget (CUPB) for its consideration. I have asked for CUPB input to the draft no later than its regularly scheduled meeting on December 11, 2009. I encourage you to share your thoughts on the draft policy with CUPB. The draft policy and a link to provide feedback are available on the CUPB website www.eiu.edu/~eiucubp/. That site also contains a list of the CUPB members, each of whom represents a specific constituency on the EIU campus, and their email addresses. This policy development will undoubtedly raise questions about implementation procedures. I encourage you to email any questions you may have on implementation procedures to Mr. Lloyd Leonard, Interim Director of Employee and Labor Relations at lmleonard@eiu.edu.
EIU has made significant progress in important areas over the past few years in a lean budget environment. We will continue to advance because we will focus on our priorities and support excellence in all we do. Thank you for your support and fine work in support of our mission:
Eastern Illinois University is a public comprehensive university that offers superior, accessible undergraduate and graduate education. Students learn the methods and results of free and rigorous inquiry in the arts, humanities, sciences, and professions, guided by a faculty known for its excellence in teaching, research, creative activity, and service. The University community is committed to diversity and inclusion and fosters opportunities for student-faculty scholarship and applied learning experiences within a student-centered campus culture. Throughout their education, students refine their abilities to reason and to communicate clearly so as to become responsible citizens and leaders.
Bill Perry
President
