UPEI lays off staff, shuffles positions to save money

In an effort to save money, UPEI has laid off some management-level staff and consolidated some administrative and senior management positions.

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The changes were outlined in a recent letter from university president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz addressed to the campus community, noting UPEI must "prepare for a future that ensures a sustainable quality education within a balanced budget framework."

"These steps have included the very difficult decision related to workforce reduction, as well as a salary freeze for senior management and travel restrictions," the president said in the letter.

The role of vice-president academic, now held by Christian Lacroix, will be amalgamated into a single position of vice-president academic and research under the leadership of the current vice-president research and graduate studies, Robert Gilmour.

"I thank the UPEI executive team for working together to identify and enact this realignment effort. I express my sincere thanks to Dr. Christian Lacroix for his leadership in championing the benefits to be gained through this step," Abd-El-Aziz said, noting Lacroix will continue to act as an advisor to the president on academic matters for the next six months.

Gilmour's term as vice-president research and graduate studies is contracted to wrap up in June 2017, and a search for a permanent vice-president academic and research will start this fall, the letter states.

Seven management positions will also be affected: three managers who have been given notice, two managers who are retiring and two managers who have been re-deployed into other positions at UPEI. They all work in departments that fall under the offices of the vice-president administration and finance and the chief information officer.

The university said it is working with those affectedand helping to support their transition to their next career.