Nineteen Northwestern State University faculty and staff members were notified this week that their employment will not be renewed for next fiscal year. NSU president Dr. Randall Webb said the personnel reductions “are part of the university’s continuing efforts to offset extensive reductions in state funding.”

Northwestern’s state appropriations have been cut by $6.1 million, or 12.4 percent, since the start of the 2008-09 fiscal year, and Webb said the university anticipates an additional funding reduction of some $4 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

State funding for higher education was slashed by more than $123 million this year, and an additional reduction of some $150 million is being projected for the 2010-11 fiscal year because of declining state revenues. The state faced a $1 billion shortfall this year and is projecting a $2 billion loss of income for 2010-11.

Webb said numerous other positions at Northwestern will be eliminated before next fiscal year, and those faculty and staff members will be notified in early 2010 that their employment will not be renewed. He said the personnel reductions “will affect every part of the university.”