More than 160 Ohio University employees have accepted a buyout thus far, including two departing deans.
As of today, 163 employees — 62 faculty members, 33 classified staff members, 36 members of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and 32 administrators — had finalized their early retirement or voluntary separation agreements, said OU President Roderick McDavis.
"We're not sure overall what the impact will be," McDavis said. "We need to assess where we need to replace employees.
"Obviously where we can save money, we will not replace people. The purpose (of the buyouts) was to try to create savings for the university."
OU expects to save about $13 million a year from the buyouts.
In an email to faculty Tuesday, Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit said during the 2011-12 school year, OU will only hire Group II and Group IV faculty to fill gaps left by departing faculty.
The university will look at demand, class sizes and faculty workload when deciding whether to hire Group II and Group IV, said Benoit in the email.
OU will begin recruiting Group I faculty this July but will not hire any until the 2012-13 school year.
Universities most often recruit Group I faculty at summer and fall conferences, said Ann Fidler, Benoit's chief of staff.
"(Hiring) would depend on what the need is,” she added.
OU will approve "limited" Group I hiring if faculty is required to support a Ph.D. program; if faculty are needed to teach fundamental, high-demand courses; if a school or department can demonstrate an immediate need; and if a school or department has available funding for the new hire in its budget, states Benoit's email.
Each academic and academic support unit must develop a staffing plan with "an appropriate mix of tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty" by the 2013-14 school year, states Benoit's email.
The university plans to hire back about 60 percent of employees who accept a buyout at 75 percent the salary, according to a previous Post article. OU estimates that 22 percent of eligible employees, or 263 people, will take a buyout, which would cost the university $15 million up front.
"Some of the employees have expressed gratitude that this was available, which is a plus," McDavis said. "Ultimately, we hope (the buyouts) reduce the number of people we have to lay off."
Employees who completed a buyout agreement by May 23 will receive bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $80,000.
Scripps College of Communication Dean Greg Shepherd and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Ben Ogles will depart with an additional $80,000 when they leave OU July 1 after taking the buyout option, according to agreements they filed with the university.
Ogles will return to his alma mater, Brigham Young University, to serve as dean of the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. Shepherd will leave for a similar position at the University of Miami.
In the cases of the deans, all of whom have been faculty members, the buyout is a way for the university to pay them back, Fidler said.
“The two deans in question… were faculty members at this university for many years…” Fidler said. “In some sense, (the buyout) is a reward for all the hard work they did as faculty members."
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