Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun announced Tuesday he will contribute 20 percent of his annual salary to new funds meant to support students facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support research programs related to the crisis. 

Each of the university’s senior vice presidents and academic deans will contribute 10 percent, according to an email obtained by The News from Aoun to faculty and staff sent at about 10 a.m. Tuesday. 

“The weeks and months ahead pose many unknowns,” Aoun wrote. “We are actively preparing and developing plans for every contingency.”

Aoun announced a series of fiscal measures including the deferment of raises and bonuses for faculty and staff, a suspension of non-essential construction projects and a request that all departments forego expenses not directly related to teaching and research.

He said faculty hiring will continue, as it did during the recession in the late 2000s, but only staff positions deemed essential will be filled for the time being. 

Aoun’s salary is just over $1.45 million according to recent tax filings, making his contribution around $290,000. The email did not specify how the funds will be allocated to students in need. He wrote that anyone can donate to Northeastern’s “Covid-19 Resilience Fund.”