Minn. Universities may send 6,000 layoff notices - CHRIS WILLIAMS, BUSINESSWEEK

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will send layoff notices to 6,000 employees Friday if it can't work out a deal to get access to its money during a looming state government shutdown, said Laura King, the system's chief financial officer. King told the MnSCU Board of Trustees during a special meeting Wednesday that the system has enough money in tuition and reserves to keep operating through the fall term. However, the system's accounting, payroll and other financial functions are within the state government. So if the government shuts down, she said, the system and its colleges and universities might do so as well.