the university must be made through the vacancy management process, which requires the final approval of the Executive Vice President and President. It is unlikely that any exception will be granted unless the position is extramurally funded and required by the grantor. Even so, the position must be mission-critical, essential to business operations, and described in a manner that no current staff member is able to assume the duties.

As we strive to build community with and among those we serve, Kentucky State University will ask some employees to shift responsibilities in order to fulfill our mission. These shifts will account for the current and potential ongoing remote and telecommuting nature of campus operations. Even more, the campus acknowledges that there are some tasks that cannot be completed remotely and will need to eliminate those positions. Between now and the end of the fiscal year, there must be a significant effort to reduce ineffective manpower and refocus on only those positions that can expand and enhance remote engagement with our current and future students. Additionally, all management staff have been tasked to significantly reduce their budget proposals and generate continued savings by reducing non-essential programs, activities, events, and positions. Given the breadth of institutional personnel expenditures, it is necessary to make reductions to uphold our core mission and attend to the needs of our students physically or virtually.

engagement with our current and future students. Additionally, all management staff have been tasked to significantly reduce their budget proposals and generate continued savings by reducing non-essential programs, activities, events, and positions. Given the breadth of institutional personnel expenditures, it is necessary to make reductions to uphold our core mission and attend to the needs of our students physically or virtually.

There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic presents an ever-changing set of circumstances for Kentucky State University to navigate. In response to this still developing crisis, our campus must adjust thoughtfully and swiftly to a new operational model and more sustainable set of institutional practices. Just as the nation's healthcare professionals have taken measures to contain the spread of the virus, higher education professionals must act to address emerging fiscal realities and new financial constraints. The above actions have all been taken with two aims in mind: to sustain our historic mission and to support the financial well-being of the campus for the foreseeable future.