Posted July 24, 2020
Sent to faculty and staff on behalf of Heather Norris, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Paul Forte, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, and Mark Bachmeier, Director, Human Resources
Dear Faculty and Staff,
Last week, Chancellor Everts shared information that the UNC Board of Governors has directed campus Chancellors to prepare cost-reduction contingency plans, including worst-case scenarios assuming 25 percent and 50 percent budget reductions. You can read her communication here.
Earlier this week, Interim UNC President Roper provided the Chancellors with contingency options that may be used in the event the university should have to implement a financial contingency that would necessitate reductions in labor expenses. These contingent authority options include:
- Expanded authority to submit proposals for emergency furlough plans for non-faculty university employees. Under this authority, Chancellors may submit proposed furlough plans for up to 12 months in duration and for any area of the university, where funding has been adversely impacted by COVID-19, regardless of the funding source.
- Authority to make temporary reductions in the base salaries of EHRA Non-Faculty employees for up to 12 months. Under this authority, salaries of applicable employees could be reduced by no more than 20 percent and no annual salary could be reduced below $45,000
- Authority to implement Reductions-In-Force (RIF) for non-faculty positions:
- For SHRA positions, the standing Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) RIF Policy would apply and any proposed RIFs would require OSHR approval. View the OSHR RIF policy here.
- For EHRA Non-Faculty positions, UNC Board of Governors policies 300.1.1 and 300.2.1 for discontinuing EHRA Non-Faculty appointments would apply. View the UNCPolicy Manual here.
The memo also indicated the System Office is preparing guidance related to faculty employment procedures, and will share this with institutions in the near future. Once we have that information, we will share it as soon as possible.
Please know we have no imminent plans to exercise any of these contingent authorities. We view anything that would adversely impact university staff and/or faculty as a last resort. In the event that financial circumstances should worsen, however, it is important you know what options are available for University of North Carolina System institutions.
Sincerely,
Heather Norris, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Paul Forte, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs
Mark Bachmeier, Director, Human Resources