Sadly, in the past several days, sickening racist stickers inciting violence against Black members of our community have been posted in several places around our campus. These hateful, threatening displays contradict everything we stand for as a community, and I condemn them in the strongest possible terms.

The past few months have been challenging for all of us on so many fronts. We have been — and continue to be — faced with uncertainty about the future; with anxiety about the health and safety of our families and loved ones; with worries about finances; with sincere concern for our colleagues; and with anger and pain following yet more examples of systemic racism and social injustice in the United States.

Decisions I have made since the start of the pandemic have been based on our collective values, on reliable data, on medical expertise, and on the very difficult recognition of the significant health and safety and financial challenges that we face. 

After much discussion and serious contemplation of the financial impacts of any delay, I have decided the best way forward is to delay the implementation of the University’s Furlough and Furlough-based Salary Programs from July 1 to August 10, 2020.