Scott Ellinghuysen, Vice President for Finance and Administration, WSU
Winona State University has announced a Board Early Separation Incentive (BESI) will be made available to eligible employees 55 years or older with five years of continuous service to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) System.
WSU enrollment remains at historically high levels, but demographic forecasts show that the number of students graduating from Minnesota high schools will continue to decline. In addition, budget estimates for fiscal year 2015 reflect a potential deficit of approximately $1.5 million dollars.
“Prudent fiscal management compels us to be wise stewards of our resources,” said Scott Ellinghuysen, vice president for finance and administration at WSU. “Factors such as inflation, tuition revenue, and the level of state support after this biennium could impact our future budgets. Because of these uncertainties, offering the BESI will allow us more flexibility in budget planning.”
MnSCU policy allows BESIs to be used to reduce salary and benefit obligations in anticipation of reduced state funding; reallocate resources to departments and programs in response to changing need or strategic objectives; and achieve other cost savings or efficiencies.
Board policy and more information on the BESI program can be found at: http://www.minnstate.edu/board/policy/411.html.
