East Carolina University plans to place 110 workers on emergency temporary furloughs as a result of reduced revenues stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the school announced Thursday.
Interim chancellor Ron Mitchelson said the workers have been identified and approved for furloughs as of Thursday, news outlets reported.
The school said in a news release that it is taking the action because several sources of revenue have been either completely or partially reduced during the coronavirus pandemic. Departments impacted by the proposed furloughs include athletics, administration and finance, academic affairs and student affairs.
Initial temporary furlough plans submitted by UNC institutions are being approved for a maximum of 90 days at a time.
UNC Interim President Bill Roper has given chancellors the authority to implement furloughs for "institutional auxiliary and recipient-supported enterprises only."
"No one likes doing this and we held off as long as we could because of the obvious impact on this group of employees," Mitchelson said. "But temporary furloughs are a flexible way to approach the issue and will permit the employees to return when conditions improve.”
Last month, ECU announced it was cutting its men’s and women’s tennis, swimming and diving athletic programs to help reduce a $4.9 million budget deficit.
