Northern Arizona to Lay Off 45, Close 4 Campuses

Northern Arizona University will lay off 45 employees and close four satellite campuses because of state funding cuts, the Arizona Republic reports. Most of the positions are in the distance learning and enrollment departments. They do not include any faculty members. The layoffs are in addition to 100 positions that have been left unfilled.

The four satellite campuses are in Nogales, Payson, Globe, and Holbrook, and officials also are closing dorm computer labs and suspending plans for occupational therapy and physician-assistant programs. Further layoffs are possible, as are universitywide furloughs next year.

About $21 billion was cut from Northern Arizona's budget, or about 13 percent of its state funding. In total (including the Arizona State and the University of Arizona systems), the state cut $141 million this year. ASU has laid off 285, left 268 positions unfilled, and will not renew 205 nontenured faculty positions. UA has laid off 120 and left 500 positions unfilled.