February 18, 2011
As you know, the state budget outlook remains uncertain. Governor Brown has proposed a $500m cut to the CSU for next year. If June tax extensions do not receive voter approval, cuts could be larger still.
In this challenging budget environment, it has become necessary to carefully review vacancies created by retirements and separations of permanent faculty and staff to determine whether replacement with similar positions is necessary.
Procedures described below already have been discussed with the deans and explain how we will be handling retirements and separations for the foreseeable future.
It is possible that budget pressures will force us to hire new tenure track faculty at less than the rate of faculty retirements and separations for several years.
We have long had careful planning for tenure track hiring by departments, colleges and the Office of the Provost. Our practices of careful consideration will continue.
The primary consideration in authorizing new tenure track hires must be maintaining academic program vitality and sometimes viability. College funding associated with retirements and separations will revert to the Office of the Provost and will be reallocated to support new tenure track hires.
It is also likely that budget pressures will limit new staff hiring. We absolutely wish to avoid making a permanent hire that might become a layoff due to budget exigencies. Each position and its job duties should be carefully reviewed to determine if the position shall remain vacant or replaced and if replaced, whether it will be temporary or permanent.
The primary consideration in authorizing staff hires must be supporting mission-critical services, especially as related to instruction and student success. Funding associated with staff retirements and separations will revert to the Office of the Provost and will be reallocated to support staff hires as needed.
These are difficult budgetary times. Thank you for your leadership.
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