TBR Plans Vote to Allow Furloughs

The Tennessee Board of Regents will vote thisweek to give institution presidents the authority to idle an entire campus for short periods.

TBR presidents have the ability to use lay-offs and reduced pay to cut costs, but furloughs aren’t in their cost-cutting toolbox.

TBR Chancellor Charles Manning says he doesn’t plan to use the furlough on a system-wide shut down. He says this gives each president the ability to shutdown the campus over holidays and not pay employees.

“That money would be saved for the institution. Now, it’s saved for the institution that year, that one time.”

Manning stresses that these would only create one-time savings. If approved Wednesday by the board, the furloughs would only be used to bridge the gap if broader budget reductions aren’t enough.