Interim provost explains layoffs

Although a large number of nontenured faculty members will be let go in the 2012-2013 budget cut proposal, officials say some positions could remain. Officials have tentative plans to roll out retirement packages for tenured faculty.

A committee was focused on explaining the process and finalizing the $21 million reallocation. They also were searching for flexibility in the budget to not eliminate as many nontenured faculty members by implementing retirement packages for tenured faculty.

An open meeting Tuesday with Interim Provost Karan Watson allowed nontenure track faculty, including lecturers and adjunct professors, to voice concerns about upcoming layoffs.

“We have tentative approval for a plan to roll out the retirement plan quickly. Before the reallocation is released, we will know,” she said. Of the $39 million expected to be cut, $33 million impacts the colleges. This money has to come from colleges because that is where the state money goes directly, Watson said.

The group working on the budget cut plan included a faculty tenure representative, the Student Government Association, a graduate student council member, an undergraduate student council member, a member from each academic department and college deans.

She wanted to make it clear that the numbers of nontenured faculty who will not be reappointed was within the 10 percent to 11 percent range.

“We have facility problems, undergraduate problems, graduate assistant problems and a number of issues we need addressed. I believe with a passion that the money will go back into undergraduate studies, but I cannot tell exactly at this point,” Watson said. “It is a known fact that the stress of uncertainty is greater than the stress of change.”

Although there were no statements released about how the money will be reallocated and how much of that money will go back to colleges, there are discussions taking place.

“This was our idea in order to come back from these cuts as quickly as possible,” Watson said.

In September and October, the committee will meet to negotiate the best plan for the reallocation of the money within the University.

Many concerns were raised about when nontenured faculty will receive notice regarding the status of their position.University President R. Bowen Loftin said faculty involved in a reduction are required to be given a one year notice before they can be dismissed.

“If we want faculty to not be coming back Sept. 1 in 2011, we have to tell them in Aug. of 2010,” Loftin said.

Wendy L. Keeney, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry asked, “How easy will it be to get our jobs back if we do receive a one-year notice letter that our job will not be renewed?”

Watson said the letters allow nontenured faculty the maximum amount of time to figure out a plan of action but are not necessarily final. While it is necessary for some colleges to give a one-year notice, it is not in the guidelines for all.

Deborah Bell-Pederson, professor of biology, is married to another faculty member of Texas A&M and said she was concerned from a couple’s standpoint because of the amount of uncertainty surrounding the situation.

“It is difficult and takes a long time to find two stable positions at a university,” she said.

The legislative session will be from January 2011 to May 2011. The University will know the amount of state funding for its budget by the second week of June.

“I am pushing deans to let people know as soon as possible. We need to get out of the uncertainty region,” Watson said.