The Division of Student Affairs is expecting to return $12-14 million to students requesting partial refunds for housing and dining fees.

“This is a significant impact and just keep in mind, this is only six or seven weeks of our residence halls,” WSU President Kirk Schulz said.

Schulz delivered a university update to the Faculty Senate during its meeting on Thursday. He discussed topics including the university’s provost search, its strategic plan and fiscal challenges resulting from COVID-19 as well as WSU’s Roles and Responsibilities Working Group.

Along with freezing university executive salaries, Schulz said he is also taking a five percent salary reduction from May 2020 to July 2021. Other highly compensated individuals, including athletic coaches, can do the same but they will not be mandated to do so.

Further reductions in salaries to these individuals may be made in the future depending on the financial circumstances of the university, he said.

“I felt it was important for me to step out first and do this,” he said. “We will continue to modify this as appropriate.”

Schulz said the university is expecting federal funds from the government’s $2 trillion stimulus package. He is unsure of how much the university will receive and when it will receive aid, but it will be directed to emergency student support.

“I want to make it very clear … none of any stimulus funds will be used for intercollegiate athletics,” he said.

Faculty Senate Chair Greg Crouch said the investigation regarding former provost Mitzi Montoya is still ongoing. The investigator has been provided all electronic communications and is still conducting interviews.

“[The results] will be made, when it’s done, available to everybody,” Schulz said. “Whatever it says, we’re going to make this a public document.”

Schulz said the university chose four finalists to be considered as the next provost. Each candidate will stream a presentation where members of the WSU community can attend and ask questions.

The presentations will be held from 1-2 p.m. on April 13, 14, 15 and April 20.

The senate may also be asked to meet for a special session, Crouch said. Thursday’s meeting would normally be the last one of the semester but extraordinary circumstances may require the senate to meet again, he said.

“We are in a very much not-routine world right now,” Crouch said. “If decisions are needing to be made, we want the faculty to be on board with as many people as possible.”