University of Oregon Job Losses Climb Past 100 as Budget Troubles Continue
Facing a $29.2 million budget shortfall, the University of Oregon has embarked on a second round of job cuts, this time affecting 60 staff members.
The cutbacks do not affect tenure-track faculty staff – university professors hired for a probationary period, and will not impact current programs. This was achieved by consulting with deans, departmental heads, and the University Senate to soften the impacts on academic and research missions.
The university has stated that it will release more detailed information about the layoffs next week.
Cutbacks Follow 57 Lost Jobs Earlier This Year
This latest round of cutbacks follows the 57 employees who lost their jobs in early summer, bringing the total number of layoffs to 117. The university also eliminated 59 vacant positions earlier this year.
During the previous layoff, classified staff were the hardest hit, including positions from front desk to ground keeping staff, as well as administrators, advisors, counselors, and managers.
The University of Oregon is the second-largest in the state with more than 24,000 students. Although student numbers at the Eugene-based university are beginning to reach the 2013 enrollment record of 24,600, attendance by out-of-state students is below target. The university receives more income from students who live outside of Oregon than from the tuition fees paid by local students.
State Subsidies Fall Short of Rising Costs
According to data, the University of Oregon received $7,000 per student in 2024, substantially lower than the national average of $11,000. State support falls way short of rising costs.
In an effort to curtail staff losses, the university managed to cut $29 million earmarked for supplies and set aside budgets for student workers and future graduate employees.
Further details about the departments affected in the latest round of layoffs will be released next week, once the university has had the opportunity to inform those affected.