Penn State announced Monday the elimination of two top-level administrative posts in internal budget restructuring meant to free up additional funds, university officials said.

The administrative reorganization, approved by Penn State President Graham Spanier, calls for the shuffling of several offices and positions within the university's upper brass.

As announced by the university, the position of dean of international programs will be eliminated entirely and will be merged with the office of vice provost for undergraduate education. This new post will be known as vice provost for undergraduate education and international programs.

Janis Jacobs, currently vice president for administration, will assume the new position beginning Oct. 1. She takes over for the retiring John Cahir.

The university also announced the post of vice president for administration would be fused with the office of vice president for university relations. The newly minted position will retain the title of vice president for university relations, and Steve MacCarthy, current vice president for university relations, will begin serving that position Oct. 1.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said MacCarthy's position would encompass a wide scope of responsibilities, foremost being the guiding of the Penn State Board of Trustees. MacCarthy will maintain a running dialogue with board members and will be in charge of organizing future trustees meetings.

"It's kind of an extension of university relations, except he'll be working closely with the board," Mahon said. "They're the ones who shape and run this university."

No one will be laid off or fired in the reorganization.

Mahon said the internal streamlining focused primarily on the administrative staff to ensure students' quality of education would in no way be affected.

"If there's a limited amount of resources, we'd rather have it go to education ... or academic purposes in general," he said. "[The position merges] are a little more visible because they're top-level positions."

The continuing problem of low state appropriations also was a contributing factor to the position mergers, Mahon said. State funding only accounts for about 13.4 percent of Penn State's budget, he said.

"We've been cut so bad during the ... last year and a half," Mahon said.

The moving of positions is not the first to occur at Penn State this year.

Earlier this year, the College of Agricultural Sciences was forced to slash more than 80 jobs because of budgetary constraints.

Mahon said Penn State officials would continue to look closely at other areas within the university that may need budget restructuring.

"As the opportunities come along, we'll take them," he said.

In addition to the position mergers, the university decided the Office of Affirmative Action will now report directly to Rodney Erickson, executive vice president and provost, after reviewing recommendations from an independent study.

"Rod has a lot of experience in that area [affirmative action]. It seemed like a logical fit," Mahon said.