Layoffs Less Likely at SIU-Carbondale

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Administrators at Southern Illinois University and the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association at the Carbondale campus have reached a deal that's designed to avoid layoffs.

Both sides announced the agreement late Thursday, and they say a federal mediator will be brought in to iron out the final details.

SIUC Spokesman Rod Sievers tells WSIU Radio that it isn't the final solution, but things are looking good.

Negotiations resumed this week, after layoff notices went out to dozens of employees just before Christmas.

In an earlier interview on WSIU, Illinois Education Association Representative Jim Clark expressed confidence that work will continue toward a resolution between the two sides.