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UW-Oshkosh Will Also Offer Buyouts To Staff In Anticipation Of Cuts

Campus Has To Cut $8M By July

By
Daniel Karamanski (CC-BY-NC)

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will join three other UW campuses by offering faculty and staff a buy-out offer.

UW-Oshkosh said on Tuesday that workers with more than 25 years of service can walk away with a half-year’s salary and a pension.

The campus has to cut $8 million by July 1, which is when the next budget would come into effect. Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal cuts the overall University of Wisconsin budget by $300 million over two years.

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Tom Sonnleitner, UW-Oshkosh’s vice chancellor for administrative services, said the goal is to get between 80 and 100 faculty and staff to take the buyout. Eligible employees need to have 25 years of service.

“What we’re trying to do is provide this option to employees who are thinking about retiring at some point. Maybe they weren’t thinking about it as of July first or the next year. This is an opportunity for them to gain 50 percent of their current base salary,” he said.

UW-Eau Claire and UW-Superior have implemented similar plans, and UW-Green Bay announced Tuesday afternoon it would also offer buyouts to staff.

Sonnleitner says the goal is to make the budget cuts with a minimal impact on students.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with information on UW-Green Bay’s announcement that it would also offer buyouts.