News Bytes

Here’s some news from Florida and Arizona:

Florida International University plans to increase the pay of its next president by about $50,000, bringing the total presidential compensation package to roughly $680,000, The Miami Herald reports. FIU is still searching for someone to fill the shoes of its current president, Modesto ‘‘Mitch’‘ Maidique, who is departing after more than two decades at the university’s helm, but trustees hope to name his replacement by April 25.
Elsewhere in the sunshine state, Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business may shed 17 majors and three dean positions as a result of cuts in next year’s budget, the Herald also reports. The proposed cuts would save FAU about $2.1-million, the newspaper notes. Among the majors that could end up on the chopping block are enterprise economics, international economics, retail management, financial planning, legal compliance, and real estate. Professor Eric Shaw, who heads the Faculty Senate, told the Herald that most of the majors facing elimination have low enrollment.
Things aren’t so sunny in the Grand Canyon state either. Northern Arizona University announced plans to lay off 45 workers and shut four branch campuses as it struggles to balance its books in the wake of a state funding cut of $21-million, The Arizona Republic reports. The Flagstaff campus will take the brunt of the job cuts, most of which will be in the distance-learning and enrollment departments, the newspaper notes. No faculty jobs will be lost. The university’s Nogales, Payson, Globe, and Holbrook branches will be closed, as will an office in Avondale, according to the Republic. Unfortunately, university officials said that additional layoffs or universitywide furloughs could still be on the horizon.