Barnhart Announces Athletic Staff Reductions
May 26, 1998
CORVALLIS, Ore. - In a move to improve intercollegiate athletics, new Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart announced Tuesday a reorganization of the department's workforce and plans to reduce personnel operating expenses by 10 percent for the coming year.
Barnhart said no reductions will touch the existing number of intercollegiate programs, coaches, trainers or other personnel who provide direct support to student-athletes or teams.
"We simply need to manage our funds for 1998-99 in a way that allows us to balance the budget within historic revenues," Barnhart said. "We aim to keep our student-athlete services firmly in place. Based on my experience at other universities, I know we can manage our accounts more effectively, operate more efficiently, and continue to support our student-athletes at a competitive level in the Pac-10 Conference."
OSU currently spends about $6 million per year in its athletic department personnel budget. Approximately $750,000 will be reduced from the adjustments announced Tuesday.
The reductions are targeted in units within the athletic department administration.
"I regret personnel will be affected - we are losing people who have given dedicated service to the department," Barnhart said. "But, we need to do more with fewer positions."
A total of nine full-time equivalent unclassified professionals and six full-time equivalent classified personnel are slated for layoff. An undetermined number of temporary positions also will be eliminated.
University officials will meet later this week with all of the affected employees to describe available assistance services. According to David Shaw, OSU associate director for employee relations, classified employees will be accorded contractual layoff rights and may be eligible for transfer to other vacant positions with the university.
"It is imperative as we continue to reduce our overall debt that we continue to strive for a balanced annual budget," Barnhart explained. "These adjustments will allow us to continue pursuit of that for 1998-99."
