The University System of Maryland Board of Regents voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution allowing schools’ presidents to furlough staff or temporarily reduce salaries in the coming fiscal year, a spokesman for the system said.

The system, which includes 12 schools and three regional higher education centers, has not been spared from the financial uncertainty plaguing its K-12 counterparts across the state. The board’s resolution giving university leadership the power to take these actions noted that USM institutions are “under increased fiscal pressure,” pointing to budget cuts at the state and federal levels, as well as shrinking revenues and reimbursements from contracts and grants.

“While institutions are pursuing a range of cost-saving strategies and operational efficiencies, some may find it necessary to implement personnel-related actions,” the resolution says.

The plans for any furlough or temporary salary reductions would have to be reviewed by the system’s chancellor and consulted on by appropriate employee organizations, it says. Plans are required to save meaningful amounts of money and take employee compensation into account when determining the number of furlough days or how much to reduce an employee’s salary.

Plans could provide schools close a limited number of days for cost-saving purposes, though essential services like class schedules, critical student services and patient care must be maintained.

Any salary reductions made for fiscal year 2026 would be contained to that fiscal year, according to the resolution. Personnel-related expenses make up the majority of USM’s budget, it says.

“So far, system leadership has not communicated that they plan to pursue any cuts to AFSCME members,” said AFSCME Maryland Council 3, a union that represents about 6,000 workers across the University System of Maryland, in a statement Tuesday. AFSCME members work in different areas throughout the system, including as groundskeepers, academic advisers, administrative assistants and custodians, it said.

“As recently as April, we met with (USM) Chancellor Jay Perman and top leadership for a labor-management committee meeting where they also did not mention anything along these lines. AFSCME members work tirelessly every day to keep these campuses running. Their hard work makes it possible for students to learn and faculty to teach,” the union said.

USM’s office reiterated the resolution didn’t “authorize any specific activity” in a statement from spokesperson Michael Sandler Tuesday.

“There are rules for notification and discussions with unions. We would of course honor all requirements for communication and notice for all employees, whether they are represented in collective bargaining or not,” Sandler wrote.

Several state schools have already announced staff reductions. University of Maryland, Baltimore previously said it would lay off 30 full-time staff and cut salaries for about 1,000 people, as previously reported. A spokesperson said Tuesday UMB would not change its plans in light of the resolution.

Morgan State University said it planned to lay off 15 staff members earlier this month. At the same time, University of Maryland Eastern Shore said earlier this month it would institute a hiring freeze.

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