COLUMBIA -- After telling reporters it would not happen, the University of Missouri has announced a system-wide hiring freezze, effective immediately.
The freeze, announced Monday, applies to all administrative, staff and faculty positions. It's the result of economic struggles seen across the country but it's a departure from comments to the contrary made by University System President Gary Forsee.
Just two weeks ago, during the "For All We Call Mizzou" billion-dollar fundraising campaign celebration, Forsee indicated no freeze was necessary.
"We see nothing in terms of University of Missouri health care that would indicate that type of issue confronting us," said Forsee. "But, you know, having said that, wee all know that in this economy we see that we have to pay attention to all the dimensions of the university and pay attention to the demand on our health care system and watch that accordingly."
Forsee announced the freeze decision in a letter to faculty and staff. With the Columbia campus raising a billion dollars, and the school receiving $4.5 million from a single private donor, KRCG News wanted to know why the hiring freeze was needed now.
"Most of those dollars are spoken for [and] have particular programs or initiatives that they gor for," said MU Human Resources Vice President Betsy Rodriguez. "And we're really looking ahead in the economy. And we're very concerned about where future revenues are gonna come from."
Future revenues come from two sources: tuition and state approrpriations. Rodriguez says she's uncertain about where both will be in the future, particularly with regard to the St. Louis, Kansas City and Rolla campuses.
You can read Forsee's letter by clicking on the link below.
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