30 lose jobs at Tech; no layoffs announced yet for ULM, Grambling

By Stephen Largen • slargen@monroe.gannett.com • February 10, 2009

Louisiana Tech University laid off about 30 workers last week because of statewide mid-year budget cuts and concern about the looming budget cut for the next fiscal year.

President Dan Reneau said most of the workers laid off were still employed on a probational basis, meaning they had worked less than six months. The workers, who were spread across all departments, were mostly let go because of the budget cuts, not because of performance, Reneau said.

"It will help the mid-year cuts, and it's aimed at next year, also," Reneau said.

Reneau said such a mass layoff had not taken place since the late 1980s.

Tech's share of the $55 million mid-year cut for all the state's universities was $2.65 million.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe has not done employee layoffs in response to the mid-year cuts, though the school did freeze some open positions and other spending. ULM's share of the mid-year cut was $2.38 million.

A spokesman for Grambling State University was not aware of any layoffs at the school in response to the cuts. GSU's share of the mid-year cut was $1.33 million.

For the next fiscal year that starts July 1, the University of Louisiana System, the largest university system in the state with eight universities, could face a budget cut of 15 percent to 28 percent. The worst-case scenario would be a cut of $116.4 million.

According to a preliminary analysis of the impact of the cut, a $116.4 million reduction would result in the loss of approximately 60 academic programs, 1,500 jobs, 3,000 furloughed employees and a possible drop in enrollment of 12,000 students.

Reneau said more layoffs could follow at Tech if a deeper cut is made.

The projected cuts are part of a preliminary planning exercise by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and are contingent upon a final budget.

"The state is facing significant financial challenges, and higher education must do its share," UL System President Randy Moffett said in a prepared statement. "However, in these tough financial times, Louisiana must invest in its people, and higher education is the key to the state's long-term economic prosperity."