State universities among those forcing unpaid time off

Parents Forum
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<p>State universities are among those forcing employees to take unpaid days off to offset financial struggles.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/30/business/AP-Unpaid-Vacation.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/30/business/AP-Unpaid-Vacation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Unfortunately, it simply shows our society’s value of the importance of eductation in general. Particularly, when you consider that Entertainers, and Sports figures make multiple millions per year (paid for by us, the fans).</p>

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<p>At the state university where I work, we all have to take a 5-day furlough between January and June (with the possibility of another furlough between July and December). A number of courses have been cancelled and class sizes increased for spring semester. Building projects have been halted. There’s a hiring and travel freeze. And lay-offs are in the works.</p>

<p>All of this adversely affects the students (not to mention faculty and staff).</p>

<p>It’s sad that all the hard work done here to greatly increase the quality of education for our students is being quickly destroyed. Sigh.</p>

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<p>I heard a rumor (and it was a rumor) that public school teachers in Maryland also were given an involuntary furlough of some length. Does anyone know if that is true?</p>

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<p>MA Governor Patrick announced a projected $1 billion revenue shortfall given December figures and will have to cut $1b for the rest of the fiscal year. This comes on top of a $1.4 billion cut a few months ago. I don’t see any way that this won’t impact higher ed. Meanwhile UMass apps are up 29%.</p>

<p>NY has a $15 billion shortfall. NH has a big shortfall from what I’ve heard though I don’t know what the amount is. We all know what’s happening in California. So yes, I expect reduced services and tuition hikes from state colleges and universities going forward.</p>

<p>On the plus side, Mr. Market is having a very nice day. I took some profits earlier this afternoon after holding for a few weeks. I hope that simplifies taxes in April.</p>

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<p>I find it interesting, given that the professors and researchers I know (even at most state schools) do not work by the day or hour. They earn a yearly salary, and work all the time, but given the flexibility and outcome oriented nature of the occupation, it’s not comparable to most jobs. They don’t clock off vacation days, or have to record sick days, or explain to someone why they aren’t in the office. I couldn’t tell you how many days last year I worked.</p>

<p>Sure we have to be in class and attend meetings, but much of our time is just unaccounted for. Our work is measured by output (books written, research published, teaching evaluations), not how many hours or days we spend in the office when not in class. Most work huge numbers of hours a week, and would do so from their office, lab or home, regardless. Everyone I know works weekends, is likely to answer emails at 10pm, and would likely meet their students at coffee shops on a snow day. </p>

<p>So to say take some unpaid days really just means a cut in pay for the same job.</p>

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<p>thumper, the teachers in Maryland are employed by the local Boards of Education (aka each county and Baltimore City has its own board). Some counties are doing unpaid furloughs (Howard for one), but the Howard schools have not made any announcement of furloughs for their employees. State of Maryland employees will be taking furloughs as will the University of Maryland System.</p>

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<p>For faculty, that’s sadly true. </p>

<p>In the venacular of our students, furloughs suck!!</p>