SLIPPERY ROCK — Uncertainty still surrounds next year’s budget for Slippery Rock University.

“We are still in a great state of flux,” said spokesman Karl Schwab.

SRU is looking at a $10 million deficit for 2014-15.

President Cheryl Norton projected an accumulated deficit of $28.9 million during the next three years, due to decreasing student enrollment, flat state funding and increasing expenses.

In September, the SRU trustees approved a $114.5 million budget for 2013-14, and managed to eliminate a $5.2 million deficit without any layoffs.

Tenured faculty had to be notified of any changes by Oct. 30. Seven positions were affected, with six professors being moved to other departments. Another professor, in the math department, apparently voluntarily ended her employment.

However, employment changes, including layoffs, for others are still being looked at for the 2014-15 budget, Schwab said.

SRU also is looking at reducing some employees contracts from 12 months to 10 months, which would save the university two months salary while still letting the employee have benefits for the full 12 months.

People in positions that could be affected have received notification. Schwab said all of the notifications met contractual obligations. He could not say how many positions may be modified or what departments they are in.

He said the picture will be clearer by the next council of trustees meeting on June 6 when the university has to submit a budget to the State System of Higher Education.

In December, Norton had said SRU would try to use retirements and natural attrition as much as possible.

“However, it will be impossible to meet our goals without some furloughs and/or changes in work assignments from 12- to 10-month contracts,” Norton said at the time.

Last fall, other state system schools proposed larger cuts.

Edinboro University announced it would cut 40 faculty positions. Mansfield University said it is considering cutting up to 29 faculty and 25 administrative positions.

Clarion University said it would eliminate 42 positions and get rid of some bachelor’s degree programs. East Stroudsburg University said that it is phasing out bachelor’s degrees in music and French as well as cutting five faculty members.