HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University President Jerome Gilbert says there appears to be consensus on campus that cutting salaries would be preferred than layoffs or job cuts connected with the ongoing pandemic.
Gilbert has as plan for a nearly $15 million budget cut at Marshall. It would begin first with pay reduction for workers who may more than $100,000. Those who make between $50,000-$100,000 would face pay cuts if Marshall’s student enrollment drops significantly this fall.
Gilbert said Friday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” he’s gotten positive feedback on the proposal from a group of workers on campus.
“They came back with a very strong message that they would rather take pay cuts to see any member of the our employee group have to be laid-off or fired,” Gilbert said.
Studies show some colleges and universities could see enrollment drop by 10-15 percent this fall. Gilbert said Marshall wants a plan ready to go in case that happens.
“We feel like we need to take some proactive steps now to prepare ourselves now for a possible budget challenge in the fall,” Gilbert said.
Marshall University president Jerome Gilbert speaks with @HoppyKercheval about the university’s plans for the fall semester. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/2IMMRSScPt
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) June 5, 2020
Meanwhile, work continues on a plan for how campus life will be handled in the fall.
“We plan to be face-to-face instruction. All of our classrooms will be 50 percent or less capacity,” Gilbert said.
Marshall will use what’s called hybrid delivery where half of the class will attend one class session and they’ll switch places the next class.
“That’s what we hope to do with the majority of our classes,” Gilbert said.
Marshall will have periodic testing for students, faculty and staff. The school will require students to wear masks when inside campus buildings. Gilbert said a decision hasn’t been made about outdoor campus use of masks. He said there will be plastic shields in the classrooms for instructors.
Marshall has already announced its fall semester schedule which will begin Aug. 24. Students will be on campus until Thanksgiving break and then not return until Jan. 19, 2021 for the second semester.