The Office of the Chancellor for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will make $4.2 million in budget cuts and eliminate 41 positions by July 1, 2011. The budget change is a result of expected reduction in state funding for the state fiscal year 2012 and represents a 10 percent reduction from the current fiscal year.

The office will undergo restructuring to cope with the budget cuts and some functions and services will be eliminated, suspended or curtailed, according to a MnSCU statement on the cuts. The departments facing restructuring include the Information Technology division, the Fire/Emergency Management Services Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The elimination of the 41 positions will be achieved through resignations, retirements and layoffs.

Unionized workers may protest the cuts, claiming they contradict major bonuses within MnSCU.

While itâÄôs too soon to know whether the potential layoffs could affect members of AFSCME council 5 âÄî the union that represents MnSCU workers âÄî spokesperson Jennifer Munt said âÄúwhen MnSCU is handing out pink slips, it certainly canâÄôt afford bonuses.âÄù

 In July, union members protested the approval of bonuses for MnSCU administrative officials that included a $40,000 bonus for Chancellor James McCormick.

The bonuses are expected to be paid by November, Munt said.

She said if layoffs do occur, the union will continue to protest the bonuses.