Non-unionized University of Delaware employees will have their pay cut 5%, effective Nov. 1, the university announced today.
The university’s announcement says that most employees will mark the loss with days off without pay: Three days prior to Thanksgiving (Nov. 23-25); three days prior to Christmas (Dec. 21-23); and three days to be used at employees’ discretion.
“Irrespective of when the days are taken, the salary reduction will be evenly spread through the remainder of the fiscal year (Nov. 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021),” the announcement said.
“Supervisors will work to find alternate dates for employees who may need to work on any or all of the prescribed days,” according to a letter sent today to faculty and staff.
“For senior administrators who already exercised voluntary salary reductions earlier in July, the new university-wide employee salary reduction will be additive,” the letter continues.
In some places, cuts will be deeper. “If this applies to your unit, you will be receiving specific information from your administrative leader within the next week,” the letter said. “In those instances, the university-wide 5% reduction will be a part of any further reductions in time and salary and not be added to them.”
The letter said that 138 employees have applied early retirement by Monday’s deadline for the program. “Final approvals of these retirement requests will be communicated to individuals on Friday,” the letter said.
The university is facing a $250 million deficit this academic year, UD President Dennis Assanis announced Sept. 24. “Some mitigation efforts have already been enacted, including drawing $100 million from the university’s endowment,” the announcement said.