Difficult News About Budget Decisions
October 18, 2024
Dear SLU faculty and staff,
Today has been a painful day for the SLU community. We have informed more than 20 valued staff members from six administrative divisions and two schools that their positions were eliminated.
We recognize the deep personal and professional impact these actions will have on those directly affected, and on our community as a whole.
To support their transition from SLU, the University has offered those who are leaving comprehensive support services, including severance pay and benefits. Our highest priority has been and must continue to be to treat these individuals with compassion, dignity and respect.
I want to emphasize that these decisions were not a reflection of anyone’s contributions to the University. We are grateful for our colleagues’ hard work and dedication. I am sorry for the pain these decisions may cause – for the impacted individuals, for their families, and for the colleagues and students they worked with at SLU.
As we shared with you last week, these position eliminations were necessary to fulfill our commitment to reduce the University’s expenses by 4% as we seek to balance this year’s budget and sustain SLU’s long-term financial health.
In addition to these involuntary separations, we have eliminated more than 30 unfilled faculty and 100 vacant staff positions – across all divisions, schools, and colleges – as part of our efforts to bring our expenses in line with our revenues.
We are also looking ahead to future years, with work groups, leaders, faculty, and staff across the institution mapping out thoughtful changes that will maintain our financial stability, bolster our distinctive strengths, and ensure that we provide a transformative Jesuit education now and for future generations of students.
Along with many other universities across the country, we are encountering a number of significant challenges and making difficult adjustments in response. Next week and in the weeks ahead, we must continue to accompany one another as we experience the grief, uncertainty and frustration of this season of change.
As an additional confidential resource for all employees, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) personnel will be available in the Wool Center, Room 128, today until 6 p.m. EAP resources are also available 24/7, and support for students, faculty and staff can be found on the well-being web page.
I recognize that this is a difficult time. Especially in moments like these, we must rely on the values and strengths that define us.
Together, we can nurture and sustain hope by returning to the core of our mission. We are committed to advancing knowledge that improves human lives, and preparing young people to transform our world for the better.
Collectively, we will marshal the insight and potential of the SLU community, transform our work to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve, and align our resources with the future we strive to create.
Thank you for your continued dedication to SLU and our shared mission.
Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President