LAS VEGAS – Nearly 300 professional faculty and staff, including 200 tenured teachers, at UNLV are being offered buyouts.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas President David Ashley says the move is an attempt to deal with drastic budget cuts at the school.

UNLV must cut roughly $60 million out of its 2009 biennium budget as the state budget shortfall balloons to more than $1 billion.

Ashley announced the buyouts for more senior staff and faculty on Friday. He says he expects to announce more buyouts later in the year.

Officials at the university also have said they will be forced to slash class sections and eliminate part-time faculty to cope with the cuts.

Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, www.lvrj.com