PULLMAN, WA An unprecedented reduction in Washington State University’s capital allocation from the state has triggered the layoff of nine employee positions in the university’s Capital Planning and Development department, or roughly 14 percent of the department’s workforce.
Eight of the eliminated positions were held by professional staff members, which include facilities project officers, engineers and architects. One eliminated position was held by a civil service support staff member.
WSU’s capital budgets have been reduced by an unprecedented 69 percent, or approximately $160 million, during the past two legislative sessions. Since WSU’s Capital Planning and Development department is supported directly by a percentage of fees from the university’s capital projects, the capital cuts effectively left the nine eliminated positions unfunded.
“It is unfortunate, because we are losing valuable, long-term employees with these cuts, some of whom have been with WSU for over 30 years, said Olivia Yang, WSU’s Associate Vice President for Facilities Services.
WSU’s Human Resource and Benefit Services professionals have been asked to assist employees with this transition.