Longhorn
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JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
JMU Administration getting ready to announce potential mandatory furloughs and temporary pay reductions.
Finances and budgets at JMU are about to get very tough, and likely tougher, over the next 2-3 years. Remember to support your Alma mater.
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09-30-2020 07:33 PM |
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JMURocks
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
This is very unfortunate, and from rumblings I've heard true at other universities also.
At JMU is this primarily driven by unexpected costs related to covid? Or we are also losing students and associated revenues?
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09-30-2020 08:05 PM |
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Longhorn
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(09-30-2020 08:05 PM)JMURocks Wrote: This is very unfortunate, and from rumblings I've heard true at other universities also.
At JMU is this primarily driven by unexpected costs related to covid? Or we are also losing students and associated revenues?
It’s COVID, but the virus in turn no doubt impacting enrollment.
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09-30-2020 08:51 PM |
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Polish Hammer
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
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09-30-2020 08:53 PM |
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Deez Nuts
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
I expect to see administrators to be in the category of temporary pay reductions. I've heard some hubbub about that but will wait to see what comes out of this.
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10-01-2020 07:20 AM |
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Longhorn
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 07:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote: I expect to see administrators to be in the category of temporary pay reductions. I've heard some hubbub about that but will wait to see what comes out of this.
I think it’s going to cut across all positions. $30+ million is a huge number for JMU to absorb in a single fiscal year.
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10-01-2020 08:02 AM |
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Dukester
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
Later this fall, and and more so next year is where most financial pain will be felt with the economy.
"New" weekly unemployment claims of over 800,000 are viewed as improving, but still over 5 times what they were pre-covid. Think about that - 5 times more. Right now a lot of sectors such as teaching, travel, businesses working from home have continued to pay and keep their employees. That will very likely change significantly over the next 6 months.
Something has to give - utilities, rents, etc. have not been cut people off, but many folks are 5-6 months behind on these expenses. Eventually that will effect the landlord/vendor, and lessee/customer. JMU will have more than wage cuts, they will have to have layoffs and terminations. This economy is circular and will be a downhill snowball once all this stuff starts to unravel.
I've been told by some of our terminated employees, a couple weeks ago, that they have not received "any" unemployment (state or federal) for 2 months. Not sure why state benefits have become delayed?
Obviously some are going to get crushed by the economy, but that will trickle down to effect everyone.
Part of me believes a stimulus package is needed now, the other part makes me wonder is kicking the economical pain down the road will make things worse in the long run.
A lot of people think we're turning the corner. I think we've plateaued a bit before we hit another steep downturn. And that is even if there is not a Covid spike right around the corner many experts are concerned about.
Another one of those times this year when I'm not sure what the answer is.
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10-01-2020 08:38 AM |
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JMU85
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
My daughter was furloughed from Disney in April and still has not seen a cent from California of her unemployment benefits. She is moving back home. She is fortunately single and not supporting a family.
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10-01-2020 09:25 AM |
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Polish Hammer
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
And I know of people that applied for unemployment in March-April and still haven’t seen a dime, just keeping getting the run around to wait and see and get a lump sum once it comes through.
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10-01-2020 09:43 AM |
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ShadyP
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 08:02 AM)Longhorn Wrote: (10-01-2020 07:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote: I expect to see administrators to be in the category of temporary pay reductions. I've heard some hubbub about that but will wait to see what comes out of this.
I think it’s going to cut across all positions. $30+ million is a huge number for JMU to absorb in a single fiscal year.
Yes I would think so too. I think is the case in Higher Ed in general, but JMU seems very top heavy with admin. I mean they just created and hired a new specific diversity admin knowing of this issue. That does not seem to make any sort of fiscal sense. Seems these duties could have been split and assigned to other administrators.
Also I personally don't think loss of revenue from room&board, deferrment, and meal plans can be that significant. Seems to me like the dorms are mostly full and it takes a lot of $10k hits to get to $30mill. The university has lost a ton of revenue by lack of sports this fall, but a lot of folks that are season tickets holders deferred to next year and let them keep the money or let it be a donation. I have heard that few requested refunds.
This is unfortunate but I also think it should serve as a wakeup call to higher education in general and JMU specifically since they are typically insulated in a bubble from economic issues that affect those outside the bubble of higher ed. I also think JMU needs to look at possible elimination of certain programs that have very limited students. If they can eliminate many sports programs there is no reason to think that under-utilized academic programs are untouchable.
But furloughs and salary reductions and mandatory vacation have been very common in the last year at all corporations.
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10-01-2020 09:45 AM |
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Purplehazed
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
I wonder how many hbg households are supported by two jmu wage earners?
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10-01-2020 11:30 AM |
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Longhorn
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 08:38 AM)Dukester Wrote: Later this fall, and and more so next year is where most financial pain will be felt with the economy.
"New" weekly unemployment claims of over 800,000 are viewed as improving, but still over 5 times what they were pre-covid. Think about that - 5 times more. Right now a lot of sectors such as teaching, travel, businesses working from home have continued to pay and keep their employees. That will very likely change significantly over the next 6 months.
Something has to give - utilities, rents, etc. have not been cut people off, but many folks are 5-6 months behind on these expenses. Eventually that will effect the landlord/vendor, and lessee/customer. JMU will have more than wage cuts, they will have to have layoffs and terminations. This economy is circular and will be a downhill snowball once all this stuff starts to unravel.
I've been told by some of our terminated employees, a couple weeks ago, that they have not received "any" unemployment (state or federal) for 2 months. Not sure why state benefits have become delayed?
Obviously some are going to get crushed by the economy, but that will trickle down to effect everyone.
Part of me believes a stimulus package is needed now, the other part makes me wonder is kicking the economical pain down the road will make things worse in the long run.
A lot of people think we're turning the corner. I think we've plateaued a bit before we hit another steep downturn. And that is even if there is not a Covid spike right around the corner many experts are concerned about.
Another one of those times this year when I'm not sure what the answer is.
I don’t think we’ve “turned a corner”...unless that corner may be another steep incline. Hope I’m wrong.
Another stimulus package is past due, as are those unemployment funds. I don’t think “we the people” can tough this one out, so kicking the fiscal pain can down the road would make sense to me.
Like you, I’m not sure what the answer is, but until a trusted and effective vaccine is widely distributed this is going to be a time that really tests not only JMU, but our whole country.
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10-01-2020 02:42 PM |
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TribePride91
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
I think all state schools are going to be feeling some effects for several years. As for utilities, rent, etc., I get there being some stay on that initially, but now some people haven't paid for well over a year and are not being evicted. Meanwhile no one is paying that overdue rent, the landlord isn't getting any income, but his mortgage and taxes and expenses are still required to be paid. The answer cannot forever be that the government will pay for it(either Commonwealth or the Federal Government). But, things are definitely more connected that many of us realized. There will be no immediate easy solutions and the financial pain will be widespread as it already is.
The unknown financial costs to schools include students(especially incoming freshmen and applicants) balking at paying full price for totally online education, massive amounts of loss revenue for sports, activities and complete loss of revenue from other college revenue generating events like concerts, parents weekend, graduation, etc.). I had a miserable time at Homecoming a few years ago watching the Dukes obliterate the Tribe, but I would gladly take that again compared to no events and no opportunities for students to enjoy their special 4 years(or in the case of U of R- 5 or 6). I was looking forward to some trips to Harrisonburg to see your new stadium, but I have no idea when things will be back for basketball with fans. Hang in there guys and do what you can to support the Dukes. 2020 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. We have some JMU students in the neighborhood where I live and they are all miserable being at home. Not sure what the best or safest course is, but it is the definition of a no-win situation for students.
Keep the house of horrors at Bridgeforth ready for us for a return trip at some point. Will never forget losing to you guys in 2010 when we were #1 and JMU never completed a pass. I think 5-6 years ago we planned to sacrifice a goat to break our curse up there, but it is no longer politically correct to consider that now. Hope everybody stays safe.
Maybe the only positive of COVID 19 is it might cause FloSports to break its CAA contract. That has been a total waste.
(This post was last modified: 10-01-2020 03:21 PM by TribePride91.)
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10-01-2020 03:20 PM |
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Potomac
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
This back and forth between in person and online needs to stop. Commit to full online for the fall and be done with it. Students are tired of being jerked around and need a clear direction.
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10-01-2020 03:23 PM |
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Dukester
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
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10-01-2020 03:25 PM |
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Potomac
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 08:02 AM)Longhorn Wrote: (10-01-2020 07:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote: I expect to see administrators to be in the category of temporary pay reductions. I've heard some hubbub about that but will wait to see what comes out of this.
I think it’s going to cut across all positions. $30+ million is a huge number for JMU to absorb in a single fiscal year.
This is happening at other universities. This isn't just a JMU issue. It's important to remember that.
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10-01-2020 03:31 PM |
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Potomac
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 03:20 PM)TribePride91 Wrote: Maybe the only positive of COVID 19 is it might cause FloSports to break its CAA contract. That has been a total waste.
That's some wishful thinking there. I'm just happy I didn't encounter the nightmare scenarios some have alleged in the past of their billing continuing to bill you after you cancel. It was easy peasy for me. Go online, cancel. Done. $0 billed since. Phew.
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10-01-2020 03:53 PM |
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Potomac
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 03:25 PM)Dukester Wrote: Thirteen Maryland coaches, AD Damon Evans take voluntary pay cuts as program prepares for revenue losses
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp...story.html
I do chuckle at the term voluntary pay cuts. I've known from experience that they're rarely voluntary, if we're being technical.
Just call them what they are, pay cuts... or better yet, mandatory pay cuts.
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10-01-2020 03:54 PM |
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Dukester
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 03:54 PM)Potomac Wrote: (10-01-2020 03:25 PM)Dukester Wrote: Thirteen Maryland coaches, AD Damon Evans take voluntary pay cuts as program prepares for revenue losses
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp...story.html
I do chuckle at the term voluntary pay cuts. I've known from experience that they're rarely voluntary, if we're being technical.
Just call them what they are, pay cuts... or better yet, mandatory pay cuts.
I'm cynical as well, but I went a different direction. I was thinking they were proactively taking a 10% cut so perhaps the school would not take more, or perhaps cut some positions.
Kinda like when schools self impose penalties on them self for rules violations.....
(This post was last modified: 10-01-2020 04:07 PM by Dukester.)
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10-01-2020 04:05 PM |
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JMaddy
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RE: JMU Furloughs & Temporary Pay Reductions
(10-01-2020 04:05 PM)Dukester Wrote: (10-01-2020 03:54 PM)Potomac Wrote: (10-01-2020 03:25 PM)Dukester Wrote: Thirteen Maryland coaches, AD Damon Evans take voluntary pay cuts as program prepares for revenue losses
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp...story.html
I do chuckle at the term voluntary pay cuts. I've known from experience that they're rarely voluntary, if we're being technical.
Just call them what they are, pay cuts... or better yet, mandatory pay cuts.
I'm cynical as well, but I went a different direction. I was thinking they were proactively taking a 10% cut so perhaps the school would not take more, or perhaps cut some positions.
Kinda like when schools self impose penalties on them self for rules violations.....
Its usually somewhere in the middle where people are asked if they would be willing to take a pay cut across the board so they don't have to lay off a number of people. Usually when presented with we're going to ask everyone to take a 10% pay cut but everyone can keep their job or we're going to have to layoff 5 people, most people will 'volunteer' to take the pay cut.
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10-01-2020 04:33 PM |
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