Malcolm Neelley wanted to do his part to help Kansas University’s budget, so he signed up for an unpaid vacation.

“I’m a Christian, and it was a way to be self-sacrificing,” he said. “I know the state has a lot of financial problems.”

Neelley, a graphic designer with KU Continuing Education, is one of 28 university employees who have volunteered for unpaid leave this summer under a program to help KU overcome a $7.1 million shortfall in state funding.

Officials say the amount saved so far  $37,961  is enough that they’ll extend the program indefinitely beyond the summer.

“In terms of the overall university budget, it’s not much,” said Todd Cohen, a KU spokesman. “But it’ll give certain units some flexibility. For departments operating with a shoestring budget, it’ll provide some cushion.”

Employees who have volunteered include 13 classified staff and 15 unclassified staff. There were 22 women and six men.

“Nobody knew what the response would be,” Cohen said. “We’ve never done this before.”

Under the plan, employees can sign up for a minimum of two weeks of unpaid vacation, if it is approved by supervisors. Unlike most unpaid leaves in state government, health insurance and other benefits aren’t altered during the vacations.

The initial plan was to offer the leave only from June 9 to Aug. 3.

Neelley said he planned to spend his two-week vacation, which begins July 21, at home.

“I’ve got enough money to keep me going,” he said. “I won’t have any problems with finances. It’s a good cause and a right thing to do.”

Marsha Tiemann, a library assistant, used her unpaid leave for a week’s vacation to Colorado and to spend time with her husband, who recently retired.

“Of course I get paid this week, and I’m not sure I’ll like the check,” she said. “I don’t think I could’ve afforded to have done any more than that.”