SAS hiring freeze disheartening but necessary

Faculty and staff are almost unanimous: the hiring freeze implemented by the School of Arts and Sciences is disheartening but necessary.

Last December, in response to the current national economic crisis, SAS Dean Rebecca Bushnell sent an e-mail to SAS faculty and staff that entailed cost-cutting adjustments, such as departmental budget reductions and salary freezes.

She also enacted a staff hiring freeze to further lessen the blow of the U.S. economic situation on the school.

University President Amy Gutmann emphasized that the freeze is "partial," and that previously-authorized new hires will continue as planned.

"For the most part, the faculty and staff understand why we need to take these measures," Bushnell wrote in an e-mail.

George Mailath, the Economics department chairman, agreed.

"It's disappointing, but understandable, given the economic situation," he said. "We were all disappointed but not surprised."

Linda Robinson, one of the instructional lab coordinators in the Biology department, added that SAS "doesn't have a choice. It will just have to work around it."

Several faculty and staff members either had little or no comments on the situation, but that is understandable, according to College Dean Dennis Deturck.

He added that hiring freezes generally have "no immediate effect," so it will only hurt if it lasts for a long time.

However, Robinson said a few potential problems have already arisen or could arise in the near future.

One person in the department was hoping to gain a new position after her current one expires this summer, she explained, but she cannot do so now because no new positions can be created.

"It's really a shame," Robinson said.

Deturck also mentioned that some departments could be hindered by an inability to hire new employees with specialized skills.

Robinson mentioned the same potential problem. "If my lab assistant decided to leave, we would have a lot of trouble replacing her," she said.

But both deans reassured that measures were being taken so that not one department or group of people would suffer more than any other.

"The general reaction is to pull together, and the staff and professors without tenure all really appreciate that," Deturck said. "Everyone realizes this is a shared thing."

In light of the current situation, all agreed that students are the main priority.

Students may not be affected by SAS initiatives directly, Deturck said, but they are being affected by the outside world, such as a parent being laid off. He commended administrative organizations like Student Financial Services for trying to keep up with changing situations.

"Everyone in the School of Arts and Sciences will be working together to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff," Bushnell wrote. "We will take this one step at a time."

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