OCU announces employee furloughs,
O k l a h o m a C i t y Universi t y a nnounced a summer furlough plan that could see some employees go unpaid for as long as 13 weeks.
As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to keep college campuses c l o s e d a n d c a s t s d o u b t on the return of students to classrooms i n the fall, Oklahoma City University President Martha Burger s a i d t h e u n i v e r s i t y h a s a pproved a pl a n t o hel p curtail any major revenue losses.
B e g i n n i n g M a y 4 , e mp l o y e e s w h o s e j o b s were “disproportionately affected” by t he campus cancelling all events and moving s ummer c l a s s e s online, could be furloughed for anywhere between two a nd 1 3 weeks o f u npai d leave.
T h o u g h u n p a i d , t h e university said employee b e n e f i t s w i l l c o n t i n u e dur i ng e mployee's t i me off.
OCU i s al s o aski ng al l staff to volunteer for additional furlough weeks while senior administrators are seeing a salary reduction the equivalent of two weeks pay and Burger won't take a paycheck for the remainder of the year.
“We are working ahead and planning on students coming back i n the fall,” Burger said. “I believe we can create a healing envir onment f or s t udents t o t h r i v e a n d r e a c h t h e i r potential.”
Burger s ai d i n a t aped address t hat t he pri vate u n i v e r s i t y l o s t c l o s e t o $ 300,000 j ust from canc e l l i n g s u mmer e v e n t s and moving classes online f or t he summer and l ost $1.5 million from refunding meal plans and housing after the COVID- 19 outbreak began. Burger also w a r n e d t h a t f u r t h e r extended furloughs, l ayoffs and reductions in force could be possible.
“I am filled with confidence in OCU's ability to come out on the other side, into the sunlight, after this time of darkness,” Burger said.
Rose State planning on students back in fall
Students will be back for i n- person cl asses i n t he fall at Rose State College in Midwest City, according to its president.
I n an email announcement to faculty and staff t hi s week, t he o f f i c e o f President Jeanie Webb, said plans are being made for a phased approach to bring f aculty and staff back to campus.
The email goes on to say that if current COVID-19 p r e d i c t i o n model s h o l d true, then the college plans on being 100% operation with in-person classes by Aug. 17.
The college said i t will be of f e r i ng f l e x c ours e s t his summer t hrough i t s business division. The flex courses allow a student to meet face- to- face i n the classroom, but t he same class can be taken solely onli ne or i n a c ombination of online and distance learning.
SWOSU receives CARES Act funds
Southwestern Oklahoma State University announced o n We d n e s d a y t h a t i t i s p r e p a r e d t o r e c e i v e mor e t h a n $ 1 . 7 mi l l i o n from the federal government to help any students affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
SWOSU is scheduled to receive $1,721,756 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief a n d E c o n o mi c S e c u r i t y A c t f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n t o qualified students. These f u n d s wi l l b e d i s b u r s e d according t o t he number of el i gible credit hours a student i s taking f or this semester. The estimated distribution to the student will be $ 38.34 per credit hour. Therefore, a student taking 15 hours may receive around $575.
T h e m o n i e s w i l l b e issued to students through di r e c t deposit or c heck, according to the method o f d i s t r i b u t i o n t h a t t h e s t u d e n t h a s c h o s e n . If students have questions, they are asked to contact the bursar's office at 580774-3019 or email bursar@ swosu.edu.
T h e C A R E S A c t w a s p a s s e d b y C o n g r e s s t o pr o v i de e c o nomic r e l i e f f r o m C O V I D - 1 9 a n d became l aw on March 27. I t established the Higher E d u c a t i o n E m e r g e n c y Relief f und to be used by u n i v e r s i t i e s f o r e me r - gency financial aid grants t o s t u d e n t s w h o h a v e e x p e n s e s r e l a t e d t o t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f c a m p u s o p e r a t i o n s d u e t o t h e pandemic.