Kansas University officials Monday announced another round of cuts to help deal with a $7.1 million shortfall in state funding.

The Museum of Anthropology, a Kansas Geological Survey department and a team that removes asbestos will be eliminated. A total of 22 filled and 32 unfilled positions also will be cut.

Kim Taylor, exhibit designer and ethnographic collections manager at Kansas University's Museum of Anthropology, cleans the glass of the Lucy exhibit, a replica of the oldest-known hominid. Museum exhibits in Spooner Hall will close in the fall, and Taylor's job was terminated due to budget cuts.

“I had no forewarning,” said Brad Logan, the anthropology museum’s curator, who has been on staff 17 years. “It was a shock. For somebody who got two degrees from KU, it’s kind of heartbreaking. You begin to think you’re a fixture. It’s pretty devastating.”

Logan was among those informed they wouldn’t have a job next year. Unclassified employees, predominantly lower-level administrators, were told their positions would be eliminated in one year. University officials said they would offer other jobs to classified employees whose positions were eliminated. They include secretaries, janitors and maintenance workers.

“These cuts are painful, especially those that involve the elimination of jobs,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. “But difficult times call for difficult decisions. We are making strategic, not across-the-board cuts. These focused cuts allow for administrative efficiencies and restructuring, and they protect productive research areas and important teaching units.”

Increasing costs

According to budget figures from the Kansas Board of Regents, KU’s Lawrence campus will receive $138.7 million from the state during the next fiscal year, and the KU Medical Center will receive $104.7 million. Those figures are the same as for this year.

KU’s share of the global cuts approved by the Legislature, which affect travel and furniture expenses in all state departments, will be about $752,320 at the Lawrence campus and $461,438 at the Med Center. Increased employer costs, including insurance, amount to $3.8 million at the Lawrence campus and $2.1 million at the Med Center.

“You knew some of it was coming,” Kathy Jansen, president of KU’s Classified Employee Senate, said of the cuts. “I don’t think anybody anticipated entire departments disappearing.”

The cuts announced Monday include the following:

Closing the Museum of Anthropology’s public exhibition space this fall. The closing cuts five positions, and the museum costs about $150,000 a year to operate.

The summer exhibits and this fall’s Indian Arts Show will continue as planned. Officials said research and education programs would continue at the museum.

Phased elimination of the mathematical geological program at the Kansas Geological Survey. Lee Allison, the survey’s director, said the department analyzes data for other departments at the survey and does research. Allison said other researchers would continue working on projects that affect Kansas, including oil and water aquifer programs.

The program has six staff members. Its elimination, added to other cuts at the geological survey, saves $245,000.

Elimination of the asbestos abatement unit in Facilities Operations. The five-person unit, which handles all asbestos removal for the university, will be replaced by private contractors.

Elimination of state funding for the Paleontological Institute, which publishes several research journals.

Three staff members will be laid off, to save $104,000 per year. But Lynn Bretz, a KU spokeswoman, said the institute may find other funding to continue.

More cuts ahead?

The cuts announced Monday are in addition to cuts announced in March at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., and the School of Medicine campus in Wichita.

Those included elimination of 35 positions, ending the physical therapy program in Pittsburg and the nursing neonatal intensive care master’s program, reduction of library hours, cuts in operating and equipment funds and reduction of clinical outreach airplane flights.

University officials already announced faculty and staff will not receive salary increases next year. They also announced Friday that employees would be allowed to take two-week unpaid vacations this summer.

Officials warned Monday that given state revenue projections, more cuts could be on the way.

“As difficult as these reductions are, they are consistent with recent warnings from the governor that we prepare for midyear reductions,” said David Shulenburger, executive vice chancellor and provost. “We will continue to evaluate our operations for further cost-cutting measures throughout the coming fiscal year.”

That, Jansen said, will have some employees on edge.

“It’s scary,” she said. “I can sense a feeling of when does the other shoe drop? What’s next?”