Payroll secure until March - Jeff Engelhardt, Daily Egyptian

As Illinois universities begin to implement furloughs, SIU President Glenn Poshard said the university is safe from drastic financial cuts — at least until March. In an e-mail sent to all SIU employees Jan. 5, Poshard responded to University of Illinois’ decision to cut $82 million from its operating budget and said SIUC would not implement similar cuts and furloughs. A furlough is temporary, forced, non-paid leave of absence. “We have thoroughly examined the use of furloughs and layoffs for the cash flow situation that we currently find ourselves in and we have determined that involuntary separation is not the answer,” Poshard said in the letter. “The savings yielded from any furlough or layoff plan simply cannot make up for the $100 million owed the university by the state.”