Eastern has identified 118 civil service and administrative and professional positions for elimination, according to a  university press release sent noon Tuesday.

More than 50 of those positions are vacant, which will result in 67 employee layoffs. Employees affected by the decision began receiving notification Monday, and more notifications will continue through Wednesday.

Human Resources personnel along with job supervisors were meeting with employees individually to relay the news of job eliminations and provide information moving forward.

Under civil service guidelines, those who are eligible for a “bump,” which is when someone with senior status can absorb a position of someone with less seniority, are being notified. Those who wish to bump have 30 days to decide.

Until the bumping process is completed it is uncertain which employees will be leaving the university, according to the press release.

Roberto Hodge can be reached at 581-2812 or rlhodge@eiu.edu