Enrollment Decline at University of Redlands Leads to Layoffs
“The financial reality is the university can only rebound if the size of our enterprise is adjusted to our current fiscal situation”
In a story that has become all too familiar, the school was already having enrollment problems, but the pandemic made things much worse.
Redland Daily Facts reports:
Enrollment declines at University of Redlands prompt layoffs, reorganization
Declining student enrollment and the lowest incoming student body in a decade at the University of Redlands have prompted administrators to eliminate 34 positions — 16 through layoffs — and reorganize student programs.
Kevin Dyerly, the university’s vice president of finance, and Michelle Rogers, vice president of administration, informed the college’s faculty and staff of the downsizing in a memo on Thursday, June 3.
The university’s enrollment has been declining since 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated that trend last year, resulting in a $13 million deficit and prompting the need for staff reductions and reorganization. Enrollment for the 2021-22 year will be 3,989, down from 4,033 in 2020-21.
“The financial reality is the university can only rebound if the size of our enterprise is adjusted to our current fiscal situation,” according to the memo.
Eighteen of the 34 eliminated positions were already frozen or vacant. “We are saddened 16 colleagues were let go,” the memo stated, adding that the reductions took place across nearly all ranks and levels at the university. It also noted that no further “large-scale personnel actions” are anticipated and that a balanced three-year budget was presented to the university’s Board of Trustees.
“We did our utmost to respect individuals’ work contributions and histories, their privacy, and their needs for a supportive, empathetic, and dignified departure,” the memo stated. “Employees were offered a generous severance package based on length of service, extended tuition benefits for those individuals and family members who were enrolled as students, and informed that they are eligible for a one-time employee emergency fund grant should they wish to apply.”
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Comments
Let’s hope more colleges and universities feel the financial hurt caused by declining student enrollments as more parents refuse to spend their hard earned money to send their children to those indoctrination factories.
Story does NOT say whether those terminated were administrators or faculty.