n order to save $540,000 and to help alleviate an unexpected budget shortfall, the Department of Residence has eliminated three positions and frozen seven other positions.

Kate Bruns, communication specialist for the Department of Residence, said the three positions eliminated were an administrative services manager, a vending manager and a secretary.

“None were eliminated due to job performance, but because of budget issues,” she said.

John Shertzer, IRHA adviser and residence life coordinator for the Department of Residence, said the positions eliminated were selected because of the nature of the positions, not because of the people who held them.

“The unfortunate situation is that our last resort is the elimination of positions,” he said.

Bruns said the Department of Residence has a more than $3 million budget deficit, but the elimination of three positions and cutbacks in other areas will significantly contribute to making up the shortfall.

The Department of Residence plans to save money by closing Knapp Hall, which will save about $200,000, and Linden Dining Hall, Bruns said.

To decrease the deficit, the Department of Residence will be closing a computer lab in the Knapp-Storms commons and plans to decrease some employee hours in the hall desks and the retail dining establishments, she said.

Bruns said the Department of Residence also plans to eliminate professional development funds and cancel a consulting contract for an administrative process review.

All of the plans to alleviate the deficit are not definite and some need presidential approval, Bruns said.

The Department of Residence had planned to fill the seven vacant positions, but are now at a hiring freeze due to the budget deficit, she said.

Next year the Department of Residence plans to fill these positions, assuming the budget will recover, she said.

One of the employees eliminated has found another job within the university, Bruns said.

Iowa State has a job placement services center that will help the eliminated employees find jobs, she said.

It is uncertain whether additional cuts will be made, Bruns added.

The staff in the offices where positions were eliminated will pick up the extra work, Bruns said.

“With the budget shortfall, these are the difficult decisions that have to be made,” Bruns said.

Bruns said the student housing rates and the dining fees have been set for the year and will not be increased.