IT'S GETTING CLOSE perhaps as early as Friday. The University of Southern Mississippi will announce budget cuts to address a projected $15 million shortfall for Fiscal Year 2012.

Then comes the hard part.

"We will talk with affected employees first," Saunders said.

Dean of the College of Health Michael Forster said those talks will probably occur Thursday. Per state College Board policy, officials face a Sept. 1 deadline to notify tenured and tenure-track faculty if they are to be terminated for the 2011-12 academic year.

Saunders went on to say: "I would hope to be ready for a full announcement by Friday, but cannot promise that."

As for the number of faculty members and programs that will be cut? That's "still under discussion," Saunders said.

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http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20100825/NEWS01/8250328/-1/NLETTER01/USM-to-announce-budget-cuts-soon?source=nletter-news