BOISE -- Faculty representatives at Idaho's public universities say proposed changes to state Board of Education policies would give presidents of the institutions broad power to make salary cuts during tough times.
Faculty say the revisions would allow university presidents to make permanent salary reductions -- regardless of contracts with tenured and non-tenured professors and some staff members.
The proposed revisions, faculty say, would also allow the university presidents facing financial challenges to temporarily reduce wages through furloughs.
Board officials say the revisions aim to give presidents at the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College more authority and flexibility to make budget cuts amid state shortfalls.
