Florida A&M University reduced its workforce by 48 employees, early last week, as part of its efforts to implement the University’s restructuring plan.During the past three years, FAMU has experienced budget cuts totaling more than $34 million. Another $8 million will be cut from FAMU’s budget in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2011.
The 48 employees were notified and immediately placed on administrative leave with pay. Their last day of employment with the University will be June 30, 2011. There are an additional 109 FAMU employees, who are on stimulus dollars, whose employment with the University will end on June 30, 2011.
As part of the restructuring, the university eliminated another 52 vacant positions last week.
“I thank all of these employees for their service to FAMU,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “Dealing with dwindling budgets during these tough economic times has not been easy. In fact, today is one of the toughest days of my administrative career. I know many of these employees personally and they have contributed greatly to the success of FAMU.”
As with other universities, institutions and state agencies, FAMU has had to do more with fewer resources. For a two-year period, FAMU has undergone a lengthy planning process to restructure core university functions and to develop a strategy to distinguish itself among other institutions while increasing the number of students receiving degrees in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
The reduction in staff is a part of the university's sweeping plan to update academic programs, academic organizations, and replaces some of the business functions performed by employees with technology.