RADFORD -- The Radford University Board of Visitors unanimously approved Thursday a $156.6 million budget that includes state budget cuts mandated in September by Gov. Tim Kaine.

To balance the university budget, more than 50 jobs must be cut from the payroll, but officials expect to lay off five or fewer people, Radford Chief Financial Officer Richard Alvarez told the board.

Half of those positions are currently vacant. The rest are expected to come from administrators and faculty taking state retirement incentives, Alvarez said.

No current full-time faculty members will be cut under the plan.

In other actions, the board directed President Penelope Kyle to work directly with the faculty senate executive council on a revision of the university's controversial strategic plan.

Previous revisions to the plan done under the watch of Provost Wil Stanton have been criticized by faculty. A subsequent evaluation found flaws, faculty senate President Steve Owen has said.

The board also passed a resolution honoring the service of Vice President for Student Affairs Norleen Pomerantz.

Pomerantz announced her retirement in early October after a blow-up with faculty over the abrupt termination in mid-September of administrators Marc Jacobsen and Mike Dunn.

Pomerantz said she acted without permission from Kyle, and the two men were reinstated after faculty, staff, students and alumni protested the decision.

Pomerantz has said she will step down in December.