Federal Government Shutdown Leads to 26 Possible Furloughs at A-State
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University has informed 11 full-time staff members and 15 graduate assistants that they will be furloughed effective Wednesday if the federal government shutdown does not end.
An additional four full-time employees will not be furloughed, but will experience salary reductions because portions of their compensation are paid with federal funding.
“We deeply regret these actions, but we must follow the guidelines outlined by the federal government and the state Department of Finance and Administration,” said Dr. Len Frey, vice chancellor for finance. “We will bring them back as soon as the federal shutdown ends.”
The furloughed employees, who will work and be paid through Tuesday, will be required to return any university property assigned to them. They will not be allowed to volunteer to work while on furlough, Frey said, and they will be placed in a “Leave Without Pay” status during the furlough.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Endowment for the Arts provide grants that normally support the furloughed positions.
