One of Australia's largest regional universities is set to axe jobs as a result of a multi-million dollar drop in revenue.
Charles Sturt University (CSU) says it has experienced a decline of $80 million which is largely due to the loss of international students during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said savings could not be made without cutting jobs.
"Unfortunately we can't avoid that," Professor Vann said.
"It's a very disappointing place to be obviously, we have very loyal staff."
CSU has campuses at Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Port Macquarie.
Talks with unions
Professor Vann said no decisions had been made on how many positions would be lost and where they would be based.
"We have estimates at this stage but we have to go through a program of actually attempting to achieve savings," he said.
"We don't [have] firm numbers of job losses yet but we will work that through."
CSU's executive and University Council have agreed to take a 10 per cent pay cut for six months to help ease pressure on the budget.
The university said it is also in negotiations with unions to see whether the university's Enterprise Agreement can be adjusted to allow it to access to the Federal Government's JobKeeper program.
CSU has launched a transformation program called Sustainable Futures which is designed to reshape the university to improve its financial and academic sustainability.
One of the models being considered would allow it to expand or reduce the types of courses being offered depending on student numbers.
Plans for consultation on the first round of changes are expected to be released in June.
