BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella is warning the novel coronavirus outbreak could produce big changes at the school, including possible layoffs and cuts to salary and benefits.
In a letter to the UVM community sent Monday, Garimella said any cuts would not burden “any particular segment of our community,” including lower-paid employees and non-unionized staff.
Garimella says national surveys have shown that colleges and universities can expect up to a 20% drop in enrollment.
The loss of income from any drop in enrollment is in addition to the school’s direct expenditures of almost $8.7 million to confront the COVID-19 outbreak, including costs for technology, supplies and room-refunds to students who left campus early. More expenses are to come.
Almost three-quarters of UVM’s undergraduate student body is from out-of-state and additional studies have shown more students are less likely to cross a state-border for school and there are not enough in-state students to make up the difference.
“This new reality is likely to impact our enrollments and revenue significantly,” Garimella said.
In addition to the COVID-related expenses the school has already met, officials expense another $6.4 million in COVID expenses that will be part of welcoming students back to campus in the fall. They are also anticipating an estimated $20 million in additional financial aid for some students and their families and more technology spending.
He says increasing tuition is not an option because UVM already has the 4th highest rate of out-of-state tuition among public universities in the country.
Even before COVID, UVM was coping with the third-lowest per capita support for higher education of any state.
To cope with the revenue challenges, UVM has already restricted travel and imposed a hiring freeze. Senior administrators are taking salary reductions, including many who are foregoing a month of salary.
Garimella, who became president of UVM last July, said the upcoming decisions will be difficult and will “likely mean some level of hardship” for everyone. “But decisive action now will ensure a strong foundation and a bright future for our university,” he wrote.
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The Vermont Department of Health reported Tuesday that the state has had one more confirmed case of COVID-19, bringing the total to just under 930. The number of deaths has remained steady at 53 since May 5.
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