The university senate met Monday afternoon with budget discussions placed at the forefront. Representatives from the president's council unveiled plans to devise a protocol should Miami University require a furlough for employees.
Defined by Robin Parker, Miami's general counsel, and David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services, a furlough is a period of time in which an employee does not work and is not compensated for the time off.
"Furloughs are preferable in many instances to layoffs," Parker said. "Furloughs are one-time money. Layoffs are forever. Sometimes, you just need to buy time."
While Parker said Bowling Green State University has announced plans to implement furloughs, she stressed there are no current plans to implement a furlough at Miami. However, such assurance did not prevent some members of the senate from taking offense to the purposed policy.
"This is one of the most draconian policies I have seen in years," said William Houk, professor of physics. "(This) strikes everyone and affects everyone's retirement. There are other ways to meet financial crises other than affecting the livelihood of the faculty if we really are in a state of fiscal exigency."
Defending the formation of a furlough policy, David Creamer outlined the monetary benefits a five-day furlough would yield if implemented by the university.
"Five days is in the area of $2.5 million saved," Creamer said. "A furlough would give us more time to think through those permanent changes."
Parker said a furlough does not require an employee to miss work.
"People who were furloughed did not necessarily take the day off," Parker said, referencing a measure of "good will" in which President David Hodge and several vice presidents agreed this summer to work 10 days without pay during the 2009-10 school year.
Mathematics professor Mark Smith said, "From a faculty perspective, (a furlough) would mean cancelling classes."
Both Parker and Creamer said they are adamant in their commitment to education at Miami and that class would not necessarily be cancelled.
Furthermore, Parker said all other options have been explored and a furlough would essentially be used as a last resort should Miami's financial situation continue to worsen.
"Retirement contributions would be impacted, but not all else," Parker said. "Sick leave would remain the same. As far as the timetable goes, we would like to have senate give us their feedback."
Parker and Creamer said they would like to get senate feedback quickly in order to take the proposal to the board of trustees by Sept. 18.
"In these instances, time is of the essence (to prepare for) an unforeseen event requiring an immediate response," Parker said.
