歪歪漫画

FARGO 鈥� As many as a half-dozen faculty members at Minnesota State University Moorhead could be laid off as the school works through its annual budget balancing process, the school鈥檚 president said.

A statement from the office of MSUM President Tim Downs on Friday, Aug. 23, said the budget plan includes a maximum of six faculty layoffs or retrenchments.

The number could be reduced depending on how many employees accept voluntary retirement incentives offered to qualifying faculty and staff earlier this week, the statement said.

The statement adds the budget plan does not call for any program closures.

Oscar Flores is an economics professor and president of the MSUM Faculty Association.

鈥淓ven the possibility that some of my colleagues may lose their jobs is terrible news,鈥� Flores said.

Under their contract, faculty members must be notified of even the possibility they may be laid off.

鈥淭here are many steps in the process. We are only in the first or second,鈥� Flores said.

He added that the faculty union will make sure that the process is followed and will advocate for faculty members as much as possible.

In September of 2020,

Those faculty were initially told about potential layoffs in April of that year, when the university announced a plan designed to close a projected budget gap of $6 million in fiscal year 2022.

The statement about layoffs this week indicated the moves are being made with the future in mind.

鈥淲e acknowledge that university enrollments are growing. We believe this is the right time to make strategic investments in the university which will benefit our current and future Dragons,鈥� the statement read.

Downs said further information about growth plans will be available next week.