Auburn University's Division of Student Affairs is laying off eight employees because of budget cuts.
Unfortunately, Auburn University could not escape the deep incision of budget cuts for this up-coming academic school year.
Vice President of Division of Student Affairs Dr. Ainsley Carry said the University needs to reorganize the Division of Student Affairs.
He said Auburn had to delete some positions to respond to budget cuts and to help with reorganizing the division.
Carry and Auburn had to make an executive decision to lay off eight employees. Carry said the Auburn community needs to develop the health and wellness program. In order to do so, the University had to delete positions to add to another.
"We're adding a director of heath and wellness," Carry said. "At the same time, we deleted some administration support and building specialists."
However, Carry wasn't too thrilled about the decision made.
"Didn't like to have to do it at all," Carry said. "We lost some good people."
Carry said each employee and their supervisor had an individual meeting with him, and he had to let each employee know their position was being deleted.
When asked to give a few statements on the recent events, one of the laid off employees, who preferred to remain anonymous, said "I don't think I'd be allowed."
However, the former employee did express their gratitude to those who reached out with love and support.
"Thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers," said the former employee. "I need them."
Carry said each employee who lost their job handled the news as best as they could.
"Reactions varied," Carry said." "Everyone handled it professionally and with class."
In this time of economic distress, eight Auburn employees now have to get back out onto the overly populated unemployment field.
Carry said the lay-offs were not performance-based. He also said the employees were laid off based on financial circumstances and not because of their performance on the job.
However, Carry said each employee would receive recommendations from the University if they decided to work with the University or elsewhere in the future.
The layoffs will go into effect Aug. 6.
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