To: Academic Deans, Division/Unit Leaders, and Faculty
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
16 April 2020
Dear Academic Deans, Divisional/Unit Leaders, and Faculty:
As announced by President Ray on April 15, the university has implemented freezes on hiring and off-cycle salary increases. The purpose of the freezes is to preserve maximum financial flexibility in the face of very high uncertainty regarding future tuition earnings, state funding, and other revenue sources. At the same time, navigating the crisis will require some hiring to adjust to the crisis itself, manage resources wisely, and continue delivering our mission. Therefore, some exceptions may be appropriate.
The following are additional details regarding the hiring freeze:
- Decisions to appoint student hourly workers and graduate assistants remain at the discretion of unit leaders. No requests for exceptions are required.
- The appointment of personnel who are 100% funded on external grants may continue with the customary HR approvals. No requests for exceptions are required.
- For personnel who are not 100% funded on external grants, hiring exceptions may be authorized for positions that absolutely cannot be delayed if we are to deliver educational programs, support faculty research, fulfill state-funded commitments (such as the OSU Extension Service), ensure safety and security, and implement pressing priorities in SP4.0. Supervisors wishing to request an exception should visit the Hiring Freeze web page, review the information provided, and complete the Exception Request web form. The request will route to the appropriate dean, vice president, or vice provost via DocuSign. If approved, the request will then be considered by the provost and the vice president for Finance and Administration for final approval.
Discretionary off-cycle salary increases for professional and academic faculty must also stop. For additional information, please visit the Salary Freeze web page. To seek an exception to this freeze for reasons of retention or pay equity, the appropriate supervisor should send a request via email to [email protected]. The request will route to the appropriate dean, vice president or vice provost. If approved, the request will then be considered by the provost and vice president for Finance and Administration for final approval.
Questions regarding these measures may be directed to your Human Resources Strategic Partner.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to minimize hiring and off-cycle salary increases at this time, until we have a better sense of our financial path in the coming fiscal year. Exceptions granted will be few. We hope to have a better sense of the duration of these freezes in the next few weeks.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President