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The Feb. 24 letter states the salaries and benefits for NAIT’s employees make up nearly 70 per cent of expenses. The polytechnic believes a “fair first step” is to reduce staff costs by a voluntary departure program.

The proposed job losses affect the entire range of NAIT’s 2,700 staff, which include full-time, part-time and casual workers. Those interested can apply to the voluntary departure program from March 2 to March 18. The Board of Governors will vote on April 2, where the final number on staff cuts and decisions on the transformation plan will be made.

“It is clear that every area of NAIT will be impacted in some way, but it is my hope that as we take on these financial pressures and address technology advancements that our strategic intent and rationale for the bold decisions being made can be clearly understood,” Block wrote on Feb. 24.

The biggest concern for Garry Wilson, president of NAIT’s Academic Staff Association which represents more than 950 academic staff, is the departure program will target academic staff.

“I’m hoping they’re not going to try to make up a lot of their budget shortfalls on the backs of academic staff. We know there’s a lot of administrative bloat here and we’re hoping that this program is designed to help that be alleviated,” Wilson said.

In a statement, NAIT spokesman Bryan Alary confirmed the number of potential staff cuts and said funding decreases in the past two provincial budgets have put a “significant pressure” on NAIT. The institution expects to receive a total reduction of about $11.2-million to their Campus Alberta and Targeted Enrolment grants.