USM to cut budget by $8 million, eliminate 20 staff positions - Associated Press

The University of Southern Mississippi says it must permanently cut its budget by about $8 million and eliminate 20 staff positions. WDAM-TV reports university President Rodney Bennett made the announcement Thursday in an email sent to all faculty and staff. Bennett said the move is a result of decreases in state funding, particularly over the past 18 months, and a recent board policy adopted by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees that outlines financial expectations of institutions. He said the reduction will allow the university to increase the school’s financial reserves and plan ahead for another possible 2 percent cut in the upcoming fiscal year. http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/education/usm/2017/11/04/usm-cut-budget-8-m-eliminate-20-staff-positions/832477001/