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UF Trims Faculty Over Budget Cuts

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The Associated Press

Published: May 6, 2008

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida is laying off 20 faculty members and 118 staff members, leaving 290 empty positions unfilled, reducing research, eliminating degrees and cutting student enrollment as it deals with a $47 million budget cut.

"Our priority is to protect the quality and education at the University of Florida," President Bernie Machen said Monday. "But clearly, we cannot take reductions this large without making difficult choices."

UF's general revenue budget is $69 million less than it was a year ago. That number includes $22 million UF cut in October and the current $47 million that reflect the Legislature's reduction.

The university also plans to reduce undergraduate enrollment by 4,000 over the next four years, including decreasing transfer students by 1,000 for next year. Machen said that will help maintain the faculty-student ratios.

The layoffs do not include tenured faculty members, and the university's Institute for Food and Agricultural Services will convert about 63 staff positions from state to nonstate positions. UF currently has about 13,640 permanent faculty and staff.

Machen said the goal of becoming one of the top 10 research universities in the country may be delayed by the budget woes and he fears qualified faculty may leave for greener pastures after two years without a pay raise.

The University of South Florida is making plans to cut $50 million from its budget, a grim scenario that calls for $34 million cuts in academics alone.

Tribune reporter Adam Emerson contributed to this report.

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