OU Announces Staff Reductions
The University of Oklahoma announced today 28 employee reductions in specific areas of the Norman and Health Sciences Center campuses. The action follows recommendations submitted by university and department leadership asked last semester to develop plans for cost savings and efficiencies for their areas.
The reductions are expected to provide over $2 million in annual savings.
The 28 staff reductions come primarily from the Information Technology department on the Norman Campus and the landscaping department on the Health Sciences Center campus. All affected employees have been notified by their supervisor and provided at least 60 days of paid notification in advance of their last day of employment and a separation program that includes compensation and a payment for insurance continuation benefits under COBRA.
The IT department is reorganizing leadership positions, ending some specialty functions that can be managed at the university level, and reducing positions that are associated with IT work supporting new construction projects. The reductions are not expected to impact the level of IT services provided to classrooms or offices.
The reductions in the landscaping department at OUHSC were positions associated with seasonal work. OUHSC will retain landscaping staff to maintain the campus year-round.
Similar to the previous reduction announced in November, affected employees will be provided at least 60 days of paid notification in advance of their last day of employment and offered a separation program that includes compensation, a payment for insurance continuation benefits under COBRA, and a payout of accumulated compensatory time and paid time off in accordance with Sections 4.3.2 and 3.10.1.2 in the staff hand book.