Seeking a way ahead

In your article "Jobs threatened as Salford looks to save £12.5 million" (11 September), you quoted widely from a confidential paper to our university council on the University of Salford's preliminary proposals to achieve significant savings to invest in new staff and infrastructure.

It is not evident from the article that the advice that the council endorsed was that of our strategic leadership team as a whole and has been followed up by further intensive work with our deans and directors over the summer. Our final advice will be provided to the council in October.

Like Salford, most British universities are addressing the serious implications of rapidly rising salary and other costs and the adverse economic climate. Salford's plans are highly aspirational and our investment plans are equally so. But our genuine hope is that any savings required, of whatever scale is finally approved, will be achieved through voluntary means.

Michael Harloe, Vice-chancellor, University of Salford.