Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for Faculty
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Dear Colleagues:
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The Texas Legislature continues its deliberations on the budget and other issues affecting our public colleges and universities.
While we remain guardedly optimistic that the final legislative budget for the 2012-2013 biennium will be less severe than the initial bills that were introduced, we also face the reality that general revenue appropriated by the state will be significantly less in the upcoming biennium than it has been for the 2010-2011 biennium.
During the current fiscal year alone, we have absorbed two state-mandated revenue reductions—5 percent initially followed most recently by another 2.5 percent, which amounts to a $10.5 million permanent reduction in our annual budget.
This scenario has added urgency to our ongoing efforts to develop innovative ways to contain costs, refocus expenditures, and realign the University’s financial and human resources to support our strategic priorities.
Last summer, for instance, we provided a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, which has helped reduce staffing costs across the University.
After careful consideration and in consultation with the deans and other senior leadership, we have decided to offer a similar voluntary program to eligible faculty members.
The Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for faculty applies only to tenured or tenure-track faculty members with an assignment of 100 percent as of May 31, 2011. Eligible individuals must have a combination of age and service with the State of Texas totaling 85 years with at least five years of Texas state service as of May 31, 2011. Please see this complete outline of the eligibility requirements.
Later today, the Office of Human Resources will distribute detailed information packets to eligible tenured and tenure-track faculty members—by U.S. mail to home addresses and by email to University email addresses.
Many common questions, as well as a schedule for upcoming campus information sessions, are addressed in these Frequently Asked Questions. Employees may also direct questions to representatives in the Employee Benefits Office at 817-272-5554 or hradministration@uta.edu.
The University does not intend to offer additional voluntary separation incentive programs to faculty or staff in the future. Depending on the outcome of this legislative session, further staff reductions may be required. Over the next several months, we will be considering a number of options to align our budget for next year with projected revenues.
Even as we face these challenges, we do not intend to compromise our momentum. Our strategy to become a major national research university remains central to our mission. We will continue to develop new revenue streams, find ways to work smarter and more efficiently, and carefully conserve and invest our resources.
Above all else, we remain deeply committed to providing an affordable, high-quality education for our students. They deserve nothing less.
We will continue to keep you updated on our progress through periodic email messages and through informational town hall meetings. Our next meeting is tomorrow, March 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Business Building, Room 245W. And the final meeting for the spring semester will be April 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Maverick Activities Center, upstairs lounge.
As always, we invite anyone who wants to verify information or ask a question to email us at jds@uta.edu or dbobbitt@uta.edu. We will respond quickly with the latest and most reliable information available.
Thank you for your continued commitment to UT Arlington.
Sincerely,
James D. Spaniolo
President
Donald R. Bobbitt
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs