Effective this week, some CPS staff and faculty (those working over 50% FTE on 12-month appointments), are being furloughed 20% of their current FTE. We have made a collective decision for those being furloughed to work a standard week of Mondays - Thursdays (with ad hoc exceptions based on program or personal needs on a weekly basis). So, I ask for your understanding as our Center operates at reduced capacity for the next month at least.
That said, we will not consider CPS closed on Fridays, since we have various part-time and student staff and summer faculty, who are not included in the furloughs, who will continue working Fridays. Additionally, our Operations Manager, Erica Fulton, will continue working Mondays - Fridays.
Please be aware though that this reduced capacity is campus-wide, and most PSU offices will now be closed on Fridays. So, for transactions that require support from university units such as human resources, contracting, campus accounting services, academic innovation, and more, we should be routing requests and inquiries Mondays - Thursdays.
I extend my thanks, in advance, for everyone's patience and adaptability as we navigate these changed circumstances together.
Background:
Portland State University, like most academic institutions around the country, is facing substantial financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact comes on top of several years of declining enrollment and is likely to be worsened by deep cuts in our state funding. To address these challenges while limiting the impact to employees, PSU is participating in the Oregon Employment Department’s (OED) Work Share program. The program is designed to help employers like PSU avoid layoffs by allowing employees to collect partial unemployment while furloughed. Due to federal incentive programs enacted through the CARES Act, the Work Share program will allow most furloughed employees to maintain their existing level of compensation, while providing PSU with cost savings. In order to maximize the cost-savings to PSU, and minimize the financial impact to employees, PSU moved quickly at the end of May to implement this program beginning June 1, 2020.