WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University is offering a fourth round of staff buy-outs to cut payroll and meet an anticipated $4.5 million budget shortfall. The university’s finance vice president, Scott Ellinghuysen, said the buy-outs will be voluntary. Only senior faculty and veteran staff – those at the high end of union pay scales — will be eligible to apply. He emphasized that there will be no faculty “retrenchments” – a legal term that is de facto an admission of last-resort financial exigency. Past faculty buy-outs have meant a full-year salary plus other incentives comprising upwards to $170,000 each. Past buy-outs, in 2020, 2018 and 2015, have reduced about 60 faculty. The university’s financial difficulties have been the result of dramatic enrollment losses – down from 8,450 in 2013 to 6,590 last fall.

More sacrifices ahead

“Even though this budget reduction plan is accomplished without layoffs, it doesn’t mean there will not be sacrifice by all units on campus.,” Ellinghuysen said. “We know that if a vacant position is eliminated, there is still work that must be done or classes taught or buildings cleaned or students advised, with fewer overall employees.” Meanwhile, he said that administrators are working on additional budget reduction scenarios.

Ellinghuysen. WSU finance chief in tough job since 2013. Has dealt with a series of budget predictments triggered by enrollment declines.