Ohio State cuts nearly 600 jobs

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University announced today that it is eliminating 586 jobs in part to offset a $28 million loss in state general funds and the effects of a declining state economy. Some of the savings realized from the job eliminations will be used to help fund pay raises for faculty and staff, one of the key priorities of the university’s Academic Plan. Of the eliminations, 119 are occupied by full-time employees with the remainder comprised of positions that are budgeted but not currently occupied.

“It is unfortunate that we are forced to take this action, because it affects so many people who have contributed greatly to the university and it will result in more demands on continuing faculty and staff at the university,” said Ed Ray, executive vice president and provost. “At the same time, careful planning by our college and staff administrators will mean that most of the eliminations come from positions that are not currently occupied, thereby minimizing as much as possible the number of people who must leave the university. We are doing all we can to shield the academic core in a way that both protects the needs of our students and minimizes the disruption to our faculty and staff.”

Ray said that no occupied tenure-track faculty positions are included in the reductions. In addition, he said that it is possible some employees who lose their jobs due to budget reductions may be placed elsewhere in the university if funding sources are available and as turnover occurs.

The university’s Office of Human Resources is providing individual assistance to affected employees. Among the initiatives are a severance program based on length of service, professional outplacement services, financial planning workshops, use of the faculty/staff assistance program and help in identifying new jobs – both inside and outside the university.

The impact of the cuts falls most heavily on support services, such as business operations, building maintenance and grounds crews, and on public service functions, such as the Cooperative Extension Service and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. Of the 96 positions identified in University Health System (Hospitals), 36 were occupied. The cuts have affected all areas of the hospitals, with the exception of patient care and nursing.

Approximately 8,800 of the university’s 18,000 faculty, staff and student positions are supported by the state’s general funds budget.

Ray said that redirecting resources to increase faculty and staff compensation is critical in retaining and attracting a talented university work force. “We cannot continue to progress as an institution without competitive compensation for our faculty and staff, who received only negligible increases last year,” Ray said. “We plan a competitive increase this year, but it will still require a continuing effort for several years before our compensation levels reach those of our benchmark institutions.”

Bill Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, cautioned that “further state budget cuts will mean further reductions in university services. Nevertheless, we will continue to focus our limited resources where they can do the most good, so that we may continue our progress on the Academic Plan, although at a reduced pace.”