Kent does a rejig to avoid a shortfall

The University of Kent has agreed a restructuring programme to deal with its predicted Pounds 2-million funding shortfall.

The university is to cut 35 academic and 55 support staff posts. An early retirement and voluntary severance scheme is expected to be launched this week, though compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out.

The restructuring programme, approved by the Senate and Council, will reduce the number of faculties from four to three. It will also involve the merging of physics and chemistry departments and the creation of a school of European culture and civilisation from the schools of classics, philosophy and religious studies and European and modern language studies.

Vice chancellor Robin Sibson said the changes "will not only allow the university to balance its budget, but will enable us to invest and to develop our areas of distinction in teaching and research".

Kent has a deficit of around Pounds 1 million, which a spokesman said was expected to rise to Pounds 1.8 million in the next three years.