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Moravian announces staff, budget reductions
Jill McCloskey
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News
In recent weeks, Moravian College announced that it had eliminated current staff positions as part of an estimated $2 million budget reduction for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
In addition to the elimination of six former staff positions, four staff positions were restructured from 12-month to 10-month contracts, and open faculty and staff positions at the college will not be filled.
In a letter from President Christopher M. Thomforde to the campus community on Feb.11, Thomforde announced that the Finance Committee of Moravian College's Board of Trustees has approved the budget plan presented by the College administration.
"On Monday, Feb. 9, the Finance Committee approved these recommendations after careful consideration and discussion," Thomforde said. "Today we have acted upon those recommendations which have to do with personnel actions.
Current worldwide economic conditions, compounded by sharply rising health care and utility costs, have created extraordinary challenges for institutions of higher learning.
The college is budgeting for flat revenue and reducing program costs for the coming year in order to provide academic and co-curricular resources and programs in support of student learning, retention, and personal development.
In addition to the job reductions, the college will institute a salary freeze for all employees, while maintaining college contributions to pension funds and health care benefits. Reductions in expenses such as travel, printing, and other program expenses are planned.
The college hopes to realize additional savings through increased energy conservation and collaboration with other LVAIC member institutions to reduce administrative costs.
"We must continue to plan for future growth consistent with the initiatives of the Strategic Plan, while addressing the urgent economic pressures of today," Thomforde said.
"Going forward, we will have to continue the difficult work of prioritizing… We have eliminated some programs and positions in order to generate the right kinds of resources which we will need to grow other programs and add new positions. My hope and expectation is that Moravian College will come through this very difficult process as a stronger institution, even more able to live out its Mission in a vital and creative way and in a manner more commensurate with its resources."
In addition to the elimination of six former staff positions, four staff positions were restructured from 12-month to 10-month contracts, and open faculty and staff positions at the college will not be filled.
In a letter from President Christopher M. Thomforde to the campus community on Feb.11, Thomforde announced that the Finance Committee of Moravian College's Board of Trustees has approved the budget plan presented by the College administration.
"On Monday, Feb. 9, the Finance Committee approved these recommendations after careful consideration and discussion," Thomforde said. "Today we have acted upon those recommendations which have to do with personnel actions.
Current worldwide economic conditions, compounded by sharply rising health care and utility costs, have created extraordinary challenges for institutions of higher learning.
The college is budgeting for flat revenue and reducing program costs for the coming year in order to provide academic and co-curricular resources and programs in support of student learning, retention, and personal development.
In addition to the job reductions, the college will institute a salary freeze for all employees, while maintaining college contributions to pension funds and health care benefits. Reductions in expenses such as travel, printing, and other program expenses are planned.
The college hopes to realize additional savings through increased energy conservation and collaboration with other LVAIC member institutions to reduce administrative costs.
"We must continue to plan for future growth consistent with the initiatives of the Strategic Plan, while addressing the urgent economic pressures of today," Thomforde said.
"Going forward, we will have to continue the difficult work of prioritizing… We have eliminated some programs and positions in order to generate the right kinds of resources which we will need to grow other programs and add new positions. My hope and expectation is that Moravian College will come through this very difficult process as a stronger institution, even more able to live out its Mission in a vital and creative way and in a manner more commensurate with its resources."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Steve
posted 3/21/09 @ 10:18 AM EST
Unsurprisingly, there's no mention of students and faculty having a say in the budgetary decisions - even though they're going to be the ones most affected by them. (Continued…)
Catherine Felegi
Catherine F.
posted 3/21/09 @ 7:49 PM EST
There must be some way to get everyone involved in these discussions while keeping it intellectual. The problems happen when people who don't understand budgets stand up and start spouting stuff that doesn't make sense. (Continued…)
Russian Wives
posted 3/21/10 @ 5:43 AM EST
Wait for next writes!
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