Effective immediately, Kent State University is implementing a hiring freeze and a travel freeze for faculty and staff. These measures are being taken proactively to curb unit spending given continued inflationary pressures, impending governmental mandates and headwinds that may impact university resources.
President Diacon released his Fall 2024 Annual Financial Update on Thursday, Oct. 17, which compares the university’s actual FY24 financial performance to its approved budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024; outlines revenue and expense assumptions used in developing the current year (FY25) budget and the institution’s early performance against that budget; and looks ahead to factors affecting university resources in FY26 and beyond.
He will discuss the budget letter and answer questions from the faculty and staff in his next Talking with Todd session at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24. Use this link to join the session.
Following are details and a link to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about these new restrictions on hiring and university-sponsored travel that will remain in place until further notice.
Hiring Freeze
Effective Oct. 16, 2024, a hiring freeze has been implemented for all full- and part-time staff and faculty positions, including:
- Creation of new positions;
- Replacement or repurposing of current vacancies;
- Reappointments of term positions; and
- Positions that become vacant while the freeze is in effect.
Exceptions
- All Federal Work Study and student employment are exempt from this process.
- Fully funded external grant positions are exempt.
- Exemptions may be considered by approval of the President.
- A limited number of faculty positions that are essential to delivering classes may be considered and any exceptions must be approved by the Provost and President.
Exceptions may be considered for certain positions, primarily those involving health and safety and those involving compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Click here for the exception form (PDF)
Only positions that have been offered to the selected candidates will proceed according to the respective recruitment plan.
All positions that have been reviewed and approved by the Strategic Hiring Committee and not yet offered will be frozen, including those in active recruitment and early interview stages.
Exception requests must be discussed in person by the Executive Officer and the President. A signed approval from the President is needed before submitting a request to the Strategic Hiring Committee on a Strategic Hiring Position Control Form.
All requests for position reclassification and/or salary changes must be submitted to the President in writing for approval and then submitted to the Strategic Hiring Committee on a Strategic Hiring Position Control Form.
Travel Freeze
In addition to the hiring freeze, we also are issuing a travel freeze effective immediately. The travel freeze disallows most instances of non-contractual, university-funded travel, including both domestic and international travel.
For the most part, university-funded travel is suspended for all nonessential business. Exceptions for travel will be made by vice presidents for their divisions for the following types of business:
- State-mandated meetings in which no virtual attendance is provided,
- Presenting at an approved conference required for accreditation, certification, and/or job performance in which no virtual attendance is provided, and
- Contractually obligated travel in which no virtual attendance is allowed.