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UW Oshkosh, UW-Green Bay announce furloughs


UWO campus, seen January 3, 2020. (WLUK)
UWO campus, seen January 3, 2020. (WLUK)
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OSHKOSH, GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- University of Oshkosh and Green Bay are the latest UW campuses to announce furloughs.

"It breaks my heart to know that we are going to be putting people in very difficult positions," UWO Chancellor Andrew Leavitt said.

UW Oshkosh will furlough 180 employees from May 4 up to August 31.

Remaining employees will be furloughed two days per month.

"We believe we have incurred $7 to $8 million of COVID-19 related expenses in this current year. Then we're looking at next year, and the great uncertainty is enrollment in the fall," Leavitt said.

UW Oshkosh is receiving $6.2 million in federal aid from the CARES Act stimulus.

Half will go to the school, half will go to students.

"We're waiting for final instructions from the Department of Education. Early indications would suggest we're going to use a Pell-like formula, if you're familiar with FAFSA," Leavitt said. That means students will most likely receive money based on financial need.

Additionally, Leavitt and the vice chancellors will take a 15% pay cut.

UW-Green Bay also announced furloughs. From May 2 to May 31, 227 staff members will be furloughed.

"We need to protect our institution by ensuring we have enough financial reserves to be able to react calmly and strategically to any adverse financial situation we face in the future. Failure to act now, could put our staff and our ability to deliver a quality education to our students in much greater danger in the Fall," said Chancellor Elect Michael Alexander said in a press release.

UW-Green Bay declined FOX 11's request for an interview, but said in a press release the university lost $3 million in revenue in the last month.

The university will receive $3.4 million from the CARES Act. Of that, half must go to students.

UWGB is also cutting the men's and women's tennis programs indefinitely, and administrators making more than $100,000/year are taking a voluntary furlough.

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