HispanicBusiness

More layoffs will occur at UTB as it moves toward separation from Texas Southmost College.

Officials estimate some 248 full-time staff members at The University of Texas at Brownsville will get pink slips on April 2. Their termination will take effect on Aug. 31.

The announcement was made Monday at a special meeting of the university's Staff Senate. University officials said the decision on the layoffs was difficult.

Staff Senate President Ernesto Tusa said as of Monday no decision had been made as to which employees, positions and departments would be affected. He added the 248 figure is an estimate and the number could be higher or lower.

"The purpose of the meeting today was to finalize and to provide the latest information and to clarify and to provide all staff the opportunity to review the process and make them aware of the timeline," Tusa said.

According to a Reduction in Force Process presentation offered at the meeting, evaluations will be conducted from now until the end of the month to determine which positions are critical to UTB's mission, evaluate employee qualifications, their performance and whether any positions are duplicated.

After further evaluations are conducted and the RIF is reviewed and presented to the president for approval between March and April, employees who will be terminated will be notified in writing at a face-to-face meeting on April 2, the RIF states. The employees also will be notified of their last date of employment, which will be Aug. 31.

According to the RIF, a severance program will be offered and the amount will be based on length of employment. Offers will be made only to those employees with a year or more service. The employees must be in good standing and continue working with the university until Aug. 31.

Earlier this year university officials announced that 89 faculty positions will be eliminated next year. The end of the partnership between UTB and TSC has prompted the university to plan staff reductions in anticipation of decreased revenue when enrollment is split between the two schools.



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