Rutgers University President Robert Barchi announced a tuition freeze and pay-cuts to all senior leaders, as the 253-year-old university faces a looming financial crisis amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.

Barchi announced the sweeping cost-cutting measures in an email to staff members, calling the crisis “perhaps the greatest academic and operation challenge in its history" as Rutgers expects a shortfall of $200 million in revenues.

“Perhaps no other state government has been hit as hard financially as New Jersey, which has necessitated the freezing of many appropriations, including a significant portion of funding for Rutgers,” he said, adding that in 2021, the university “must prepare for a similar, potentially greater, financial impact.”

The state’s flagship university has seen a freeze on $73 million in state funding, more than $50 million in student room and board refunds and millions in other lost revenue.

To begin addressing the crisis, Barchi said he will recommend to the Board of Governors a freeze in undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2021 budget.

Barchi, university chancellors and executive vice presidents will take a 10% salary reduction over the next four months, including the athletic director and head coaches for football and men’s and women’s basketball in New Brunswick, he said.

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Barchi, who is leaving his post on June 30, makes $705,305, according to public records. And Greg Schiano signed an eight-year, $32 million contract in December to return as Rutgers football head coach.

Vice presidents, provosts, vice chancellors, deans in the administrative council and the rest of New Brunswick’s athletics leadership team will take a 5% pay cut over the same period.

Furloughs, reductions in staff and further wage freezes are being discussed between Rutgers officials and union leaders, Barchi said. Non-contractual pay raises are also prohibited indefinitely.

Rutgers did not say what will happen to the 3,000 adjunct professors who are hired on a semester-by-semester basis and believe their jobs are on the line.

The university is also halting all capital construction projects and reviewing all active projects, including plans for renovation, which could have an impact on Rutgers’ 2030 Master Plan, including a new football facility, dining halls and renovations to the Rutgers Athletic Center.

And the hiring freeze and ban on university-sponsored travel will continue indefinitely.

“I know that many in our community are suffering great financial hardships, uncertain employment prospects, and disrupted personal and professional plans. Holding tuition and fees flat for undergraduates will help to ease part of this burden for our students, but more help is needed,” Barchi said in his letter to staff, noting officials are advocating at the state and federal levels for more help.

Rutgers received $54.2 million in federal funding under the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package. The first $27 million will be used for relief for students, a spokeswoman said.

In 2019, Rutgers announced a 2.9% tuition increase for undergraduate students for the 2019-2020 school year.

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Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.