West Virginia University will reduce its libraries’ personnel budget by up to $800,000 following recommendations from the provost’s office. The dean of libraries must submit a plan for the cuts by Dec. 1, and staff will be notified if they have been terminated between Dec. 8 and 15. The provost’s office also recommended the university’s Teaching and Learning Commons — which provides teaching support and resources for faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students — reduce its operations and potentially cut staff over concerns its services are duplicating those in other departments. Faculty in affected units were notified about the coming budget cuts on Monday, Stephanie Taylor, WVU’s vice president and general counsel, said during a meeting Wednesday. They must say by Sept. 30 whether they want WVU to consider keeping their positions. Roughly 60% of the group had responded as of Wednesday morning, Taylor said.
