Duke to start layoffs after almost 600 employees take voluntary buyouts

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- After nearly 600 Duke University employees accepted voluntary buyout offers in the spring, the school now says it will still need to conduct "involuntary layoffs".

The move comes amid significant threats to the university's funding under the Trump Administration.

An email sent to faculty and staff stated that all university units will be asked to identify non-personnel budget cuts they can implement, which will then "determine the scale" of the layoffs.

According to ABC11's newsgathering partner, the News and Observer, the message added that "fewer employees will be affected" by the layoffs, given the "high number" of employees who participated in the voluntary buyouts. More than 250 faculty members are also considering offers for voluntary retirement incentives, per the message.

Employees who are laid off will be notified between Aug 5 and 19.