During the Sept. 18 meeting, the board adopted the policy, which does not excuse the possibility of faculty furloughs.

According to the policy, employees would be required to take up to five consecutive days or 40 consecutive hours off without pay.

Ohio's 128th General Assembly allows for any public institution to adopt a mandatory furlough policy that could help reduce budget deficits if needed.

According to the policy, a significant operating budget deficit is defined as "a documented substantial decline in the financial resources of the institution that is brought about by a reduction in state funding, loss of revenue from endowments or investments, decline in institutional enrollment."

The policy also states, "the board of trustees of Miami University believes it is better to have such a policy and not need it than to need one and not have it."

The policy goes on to say that furloughs would apply to all employees, "regardless of source of funds, place of work or appointment terms and status, including faculty, unclassified administrative staff and non-bargaining unit classified staff (which are staff represented by the union)."

David Creamer, vice president of finance and business services and treasurer, said faculty furloughs wouldn't affect teaching days.

"Students will get the same educational experience," Creamer said. "The furloughs would occur during periods of time when classes are not going on, like non-teaching days and spring break and Christmas."

Paula Gandara, associate professor in the Spanish and Portuguese department, said implementing furloughs would be better than cutting programs, layoffs or merging programs.

"It's been done in other institutions and other kinds of work," Gandara said. "It wouldn't affect my teaching."

Gandara said students won't experience an academic impact but might if the furlough was for a longer period of time.

"Furloughs are acceptable and manageable," Gandara said.

A Miami custodian who wished to remain anonymous said he doesn't see any positive outcomes from the use of furloughs.

"I think it's bad and won't save much more money or positions," he said. "The university hasn't put out any paperwork or information about it. A lot of people don't know about it."

The employee said this furlough policy reminds him of policies Miami already uses with staff.

"During Christmas break we have to take a mandatory three days off without pay, that's 24 to 32 hours," he said. "So this kind of already exists."

The employee said he understands the university is trying to save money with job losses and understaffing, but he said adding furloughs wouldn't help.

"They should have done furloughs since the beginning, instead of terminating jobs," the employee said.

Mattie Gray, president of the local 209 union of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said union members would rather be furloughed than laid-off.

"If it'll save a job, than furloughs would be more than welcomed," Gray said.

The policy mentions that employees will still continue to receive health care, dental care and life insurance during any furloughed time. Employees will also continue to accrue vacation and sick leave during their furlough. Retirement contributions will not made during a furlough, as they are based on actual earnings.