By Kathryn Masterson

Washington

Imposing furloughs and budget cuts doesn't win university administrators many friends, but it is possible to carry out such measures in a way that limits damage to morale, the provost of Clemson University told public university administrators at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities' annual conference here on Sunday.

The South Carolina institution, which experienced a major drop in its endowment and significant cutbacks in support from the state, decided last year to trim its budget more than it had to, Doris R. Helms, who is vice president for academic affairs and provost, said. Doing that gave Clemson a cushion in this year's budget and helped it limit disruptions, because the university wouldn't have to go back and make more cuts each time its revenue dropped.

"When you're cutting, cutting, cutting, morale goes down," Ms. Helms said.

When Clemson imposed a mandatory five-day furlough on employees, the university was able to redirect some of the initial negative reaction into a more positive response, she said, through the creation of a furlough relief fund for university employees who made less than $30,000 a year. Employees could donate to the fund to help out their fellow workers who were most hurt by the loss of a week's income.

"It took a little bit of the sting out of, 'I lost five days of pay,'" Ms. Helms said. Putting the focus on others "builds community."

The university's president and other administrators, including Ms. Helms, gave to the fund, though the donation amounts were not publicized. The effort raised about $80,000. Three well-known retired faculty and staff members reviewed the applications for assistance and determined the recipients and amounts.