UW-O Announces Salary Reductions, Furloughs

It’s been a rocky start to 2020 for many college campuses. UW Oshkosh announced Friday the steps they will now be taking to address the financial challenges facing the University in light of COVID-19. UWO’s vice chancellors and Chancellor Andrew Leavitt will take a 15-percent salary reduction effective May 2020. 

Approximately 180 employees will be notified by Human Resources that they will be on continuous furlough effective May 4, with furloughs extending up to 90 working days through Aug. 31. Remaining staff will be placed on furlough two days each month beginning in May 2020, the maximum per UW System policy and guidelines. All nine-month employees are exempt from furloughs this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2020). Nine-month employees will be notified later this summer regarding intermittent furloughs during their fiscal year 2021 contract.

“None of this is easy and every day brings new opportunities to find solutions that will counteract the pandemic’s disruptions at UWO,” said Chancellor Andrew Leavitt. “We don’t have precedence for navigating the chaos spurred by coronavirus, but we will continue to evaluate information as we receive it and in a transparent and equitable way determine the best course for the University.”