West Virginia University could be facing a $15 million to $20 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year because of COVID-19, a top university official said Thursday during a campus-wide Zoom meeting.
But – as of right now – no layoffs or salary reductions are planned, said Rob Alsop, WVU’s vice president for strategic initiatives.
“The worse-case scenario has not played out,” Alsop said during the question-and-answer session with listeners. “There will be no additional cuts unless something changes.”
Alsop said the pandemic has resulted in a $55 million revenue loss, plus the university had $23 million in COVID-related expenses. WVU, he said, hopes to recoup some of those funds – $20 million – through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. In addition, the university has trimmed $35 million from its budget.
The financial impact of COVID-19 will carry over into next year’s budget as well, said Alsop, adding there will be spending cuts.
“We face an uncertain future, but the university is positioned well,” he said.
After moving their most-recent commencements online, WVU said it plans to have its May ceremony at Milan Puskar Stadium on May 15 and May 16. COVID-19 restrictions will be in place and a limited number of tickets will be available, said Robin Yorty, executive director of university events and liaison to the president.
“Rain or shine,” she said.
Additional information on spring commencement will be posted on WVU’s web site by March 1, she added.
Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and dean of Health Sciences who doubles as West Virginia’s coronavirus czar, said vaccination efforts, both at the university and statewide, are going well. Most employees age 65 and older have received a shot, he said. Plus, 680 Health Sciences students have received their first vaccination.
“350,000 West Virginians 65 and older have received their shot,” said Marsh, adding the average age of someone who dies of COVID-19 in West Virginia is 77. “Half the deaths are in nursing homes … and 97% of the people who die are 50 and older.”
Marsh said the biggest hurdle to everyone not only at WVU, but the state as a whole, is vaccine availability. He said he is hopeful the U.S. Food & Drug Administration will approve the Johnson & Johnson virus vaccine by the end of March.
Dr. Jeff Coben, dean of the School of Public Health, said a number of COVID-19 variants – a mutation of the virus – have sprung up, including the U.K. variant, the South African variant, and the Brazilian variant. None of the variants have been found in West Virginia.
“The new variants of the virus make it important to practice caution,” he said.
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