Thompson Rivers University is planning in the background for a number of situations, based on its economic situation during the pandemic.

Vice president of finance Matt Milovick was asked if the school is expecting a negative impact on revenues for this fiscal year, because of COVID-19.

“Oh yeah, are we ever. We’re in sort of a mode of extreme financial prudence. So all discretionary spending has been halted. Travel is almost a complete standstill, and obviously that makes sense, no one’s really going anywhere. Certainly not out of country.”

Milovick says TRU has also frozen hiring, and is spending as little as possible while trying to make sure it has a robust COVID-19 safety plan in place on campus.

“We’re spending where we need to, to make sure that our response to COVID-19 and make sure that we’re prepared for the fall, and that those things are robust.”

TRU had first expected a surplus of $14.2 million for the current fiscal year, which started on April 1. The school had a surplus of $20 million last year and $18 million the year before that.