OSHKOSH (NBC 26) -- The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced employee furloughs Monday, citing the financial strain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
UW-Oshkosh cited action last week by the UW System Board of Regents executive committee, which approved imposing employee furloughs.
The university said in a news release that that it will enact furloughs for employees across its three campuses beginning as soon as May 4. Some employees will be on furlough from May 4 until Aug. 31. Others will have intermittent furloughs for a yet-to-be-determined number of days from May 4, 2020, through June 2021.
UWO said it has incurred about a $7 million loss due to reimbursements to students and other losses from coronavirus. The school said this leaves a gap of about $4 million that threatens the university’s ability to cover fundamental costs, including payroll.
While UWO will benefit from $6.2 million from the federal CARES Act, half of those funds will provide needed direct financial relief for students. UWO said it has initiated a fundraising campaign, Titans Rise, to provide additional funds directly to students who are struggling. So far, the school said that fund has raised more than $17,000.
