Some employees in the Administration Building said rumors are circulating about job reductions as part of a plan by University of Memphis officials to cut spending.
“Nothing has been official,” said Shayla Grant, computer operations employee. “But they have been doing some cut-backs in accounting.”
Grant said she isn’t worried about losing her job, despite the budget cuts.
“I haven’t been told that we’re in any danger of losing any positions,” she said.
An announcement by the Tennessee Board of Regents last month called for the state’s public colleges and universities to return up to 5 percent of the money allotted to them this fiscal year.
The U of M has until Feb. 18 to provide the TBR its plan to cut spending up to $5 million from its $107 million budget.
Another plan, due March 4, calls for an 8.8 percent cut in July for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
“Almost 80 percent of our budget is salary and benefits,” said David Zettergren, assistant vice-president for finance. “If you’re cutting 8 percent, you’re definitely going to have a loss of positions.”
He said the cuts would most heavily hit the administrative side of The U of M.
“It’s a big hit for everybody,” said Mary Morgan, TBR director of communications. “I am expecting to see that many of our schools will just not fill open positions. But we would expect the bulk of the cuts to be on the administrative side.”
Schools have most recently been investing money in student services, she said.
“Inevitably, there will be a negative impact on students who use these services,” Morgan said. “But I think everybody’s instinct is to protect our common mission which is education.”
Students may not feel the impact of the cuts, which will mostly be behind the scenes, Zettergren said.
“I’ve heard about the cuts through the rumor-mill,” said Gerise Guy, graduate assistant in administration. “But it’s neither here nor there.”
Guy said she has heard about cuts on and off for a couple years.
“I certainly don’t worry about losing my job,” she said. “I’m just waiting to see what happens.”
