
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995                   TAG: 9502230068
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BUDGET COMPROMISE COULD PREVENT LAYOFFS

Job losses at the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service may be avoided and faculty and staff from Radford University's ill-fated New College of Global Studies may receive severance packages under the legislature's compromise budget.

Administrators at both universities were awaiting the official release of their budgets today, and could provide little information on Wednesday.

According to legislative sources, $12.3 million was restored to Tech's Virginia Cooperative Extension. That's the full amount Gov. George Allen proposed cutting. The restoration means the threat to 400 jobs is over for now. But the General Assembly's failure to restore $2.2 million Tech also was seeking - which was cut a year ago - means 30 to 35 extension positions will go next year. Andy Swiger, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said he expected attrition and a buyout offered by Tech would mean no layoffs - although the school won't be allowed to refill the jobs.

Charles King, Radford's business vice president, said he could not say what $550,000 salvaged from funding for the New College would pay for without seeing the budget language. Whether there is funding for the university's plan to "internationalize" the regular curriculum also remains to be seen.

The $550,000 compromise may pay for a year's salary for workers, or a year's severance pay. The amount was reached after the Senate recommended $1.1 million, while the House asked for $250,000.

A year's pay for six faculty members ranges from $280,000 to $300,000. Pay for the full staff is about $800,000.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995

by CNB