St. Cloud State rescinds most of its layoff notices

Fortunately, it looks like the financial situation at St. Cloud State University isn't quite as dire as once thought.

First came the news in November that students voted to increase student fees to buy another two years for a number of athletic programs, including football, which were slated for elimination.

Now the St. Cloud Times reports that the university has rescinded 21 of the 26 layoff notices it sent to tenure-track faculty in a previous budget-cutting move:

The university originally had said its target for faculty reductions was 80-90. That target has decreased as the university has found greater savings in other areas than originally expected. ... The university said at the time it likely wouldn’t have to lay off all 26 people who received the notices.

St. Cloud State faces a $13.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2011, and has been restructuring its academic offerings -- including cutting its aviation department.

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