WWU receives approval from state on plans to meet 'furlough bill' requirements

Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard has announced that the university has received final approval from the state Office of Financial Management for its response to the state’s “furlough bill”, ESSB 6503.

Western's plan, which was presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees at the June 11 meeting, was to achieve the one-time $1.172-million reduction mandated by the legislature without closing the university or requiring employees to take furlough days.

Instead, Western's plan was for savings to be realized from three other sources: the faculty union’s decision to forego contractually agreed-upon merit raises for two years in order to provide more classes for students, further campus-wide budget reductions, and potential savings from requests by some staff to voluntarily reduce their full-time positions.

The plan received final approval from OFM on June 16.