Daniels cuts merit raises of top Purdue staff

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University President Mitch Daniels is eliminating merit raises for administrators earning more than $50,000 annually for two years.

Purdue posted a message from Daniels on his web page Monday saying the move will apply to senior administrators, deans and administrative and professional staff. He says it will save the university $5 million over the next two years.

He says Purdue will announce additional cost-cutting moves in the next few weeks as it finds ways to cover the estimated $40 million cost of freezing tuition rates through 2015. He says he wants Purdue to eliminate costs beyond that to pay for scholarships or a longer tuition freeze.

Daniels became Purdue's president in January after completing two terms as Indiana's governor.