For UT staff, shortages caused by budget cuts have been most apparent in the implementation of a hiring freeze and the inability to complete maintenance projects.

Of the six bullet points detailing specific reductions on the Knoxville campus in Interim Chancellor Jan Simek’s Oct. 9 announcement on his Web site, two were particularly pertinent to staff. Simek said the campus would experience a “reduction of maintenance funding, which will further delay overdue maintenance on many buildings” and a “reduction in the ability to modernize teaching and classrooms through the use of technology.”

The hiring freeze is a campus-wide reduction, affecting all departments. Kenneth Stoner, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs in the Department of University Housing, commented on the hiring situation in the housing department.

“We’re trying to reorganize some jobs and consolidate or load up or cross train where we can to help through this particular period of time,” he said. “But we have not terminated anybody.”

For student housing workers, the pay situation has improved, Stoner said.

“The minimum wage has increased in the last year, so the students … got increases,” he said. “But the trade-off is there’s probably fewer students on your payroll. So the student piece of it, on our end, has not been impacted in any huge or noticeable way.”

UT faculty and staff did not receive raises this year but rather a one-time, Oct. 1 bonus, according to a Sept. 5 email from Linda Hendricks, vice president and chief human resources officer, to all faculty and staff.

The email indicated that all regular employees with three years or more of eligible service would receive the bonus. The amount of the bonus was dependent on the employee’s “percentage of appointment.” Eligible employees received $100, $200, $300 or $400, according to the email.

For UT staff, there has been no reduction in benefits, aside from insurance fees continuing to increase, said Tom Anderson, buyer for Facilities Services.