YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University announced agreements Wednesday to cut or furlough staff that could save the university up to $4.8 million over the next school year.

The university is eliminating 22 coaching and administrative positions in its intercollegiate athletics programs, representing a savings of $2 million.

The action comes less than three weeks after YSU President Jim Tressel announced he was taking a 15 percent salary reduction and that more than 100 other employees excluded from union membership will have their pay cut by as much as 10 percent, a projected savings of nearly $700,000.

More budgets cuts are coming, the university said.

“Our employees stepped up earlier this spring when we had to quickly switch all of our classes to remote instruction,” Tressel said.

“They’re stepping up again by agreeing to these actions. We commend them for their cooperation and continued commitment to the university’s greater good,” said.

THE LATEST CUTS

The university and two of its employee unions have agreed to a plan that calls for furloughs resulting in a 10 percent pay cut and a lack-of-work layoff of 69 workers, a savings of at least $2.8 million

Both actions are in response to financial challenges resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

The agreement with the 251-member Association for Classified Employees and the 163-member Association of Professional / Administrative Staff calls for:

l All employees in the two unions to take 26 furlough days of unpaid leave during the 2020-21 fiscal year that starts July 1, which equals a 10 percent pay cut;

l Forty-five ACE employees and 24 APAS employees to be laid off for lack of work in areas of the university that have temporarily closed due to the pandemic, including areas such as housing and Dining Services, and Parking. The lack-of-work layoffs run through July 31.

In addition, the agreement, approved by both unions last week, allows for a voluntary reduction in force under which employees can ask to be laid off June 1 to July 31.

MORE REDUCTIONS COMING

“It is so difficult in this environment to forecast our financial future with any certainty whatsoever,” Neal McNally, vice president for Finance and Business Operations, said. “What we do know, however, is that the challenges are large.

“We truly appreciate the willingness of ACE and APAS to help the university meet these financial realities,” Tressel said. “Their action will certainly lessen, but not eliminate, the need for permanent layoffs. We continue to be in discussions regarding reorganization and operational efficiency.”

APAS President Ed Villone said there was no doubt APAS members would band together with the university to work out a plan to mitigate at least some of the financial damage caused by the pandemic.

“APAS members collaborated through many meetings and came to a quick conclusion that our students and communities depend greatly upon YSU and their employees to be there for now and in the future,” he said.

“To give those students a future, APAS overwhelmingly passed a vote that included layoffs and furloughs to reach our cost savings goals.”

ACE President Connie Frisby said, “We all have a vested interest in the success of YSU and its students. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the university on these measures to save as many jobs as possible.”

YSU joins a growing list of universities and colleges across Ohio and the nation announcing budget cuts, pay reductions, layoffs and other actions in response to the financial crunch in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

THE CHALLENGES

Among YSU’s financial challenges is a $1.6 million cut in state funding over the last three months of this fiscal year, and nearly $3 million in revenue losses via student fee refunds.

For fiscal year 2021, YSU projects an additional $8.7 million reduction in state funding, a loss of up to $1 million in investment income, and continued uncertainty concerning next year’s enrollment levels. Housing, dining and parking revenue, totaling nearly $15 million annually, also may be threatened.

“As we thoughtfully and collectively work through these unprecedented and complex challenges, we do so looking forward to the start of the fall semester in August and the great opportunity to again help our students pursue success,” Tressel said.

rsmith@tribtoday.com