More Valpo layoffs...

[vu72]

I heard today that Pastor Wetzstein and Deaconess Lewis have be furloughed.  Financially, if necessary, it makes sense as their job is providing spiritual counseling to students, who aren't there.  Still, a troubling sight.

This isn't the kind of fact that draws National news, like furloughing 200, but it says that behind the scenes, thing are getting very difficult for all concerned.  Let's all be as generous as possible this coming Day of Giving!!

[crusadermoe]

Very difficult days ahead for everyone (especially college) if we continue to force people under 65 to stay six feet apart and fill spaces at 25% capacity. Good bye restaurants, airplanes, and common sense and with it incomes of vast numbers of people.

I had a Valpo economics prof who provoked some thought in our class.  He said, "What is the optimal level of pollution?" A couple of students said "zero" quickly.   He said, "No, it's the level at which eliminating the balance of the pollution starts to cost society more than it costs to simply tolerate it."     

Yeah, I get glassy-eyed stares, but maybe some of that old-fashioned common sense dribbles into their brains.  Obviously that VU professor was far less intelligent than the 90% of today's professors who swear by global warming.   While we allow China and India to spew smoke from plastics into the air we "enlightened" western countries rushed to impose on ourselves draconian limits.  All of that e virtue-signaling, but self-defeating thought process led to the ludicrous Paris Accord that allowed China to run wild with pollution. 

At what societal cost do "purify" our country by purging coal from the earth and building $1m windmills paid by our government?     

[valpo95]

While we allow China and India to spew smoke from plastics into the air we "enlightened" western countries rushed to impose on ourselves draconian limits.  All of that e virtue-signaling, but self-defeating thought process led to the ludicrous Paris Accord that allowed China to run wild with pollution. 
   

I think this could be moved to the General Off Topic thread.

Crusadermoe has packed a lot into the reply. Yet he is spot on on one thing: From 2014-2018, China installed approximately 221 GW of new coal generation capacity - these are new coal plants though they are not up to the same level as US or European coal plants. For perspective, in 2017 ALL of the coal plants in the USA totaled approximately 227 GW. Said another way, in five years, China *added* about as much coal generation as was total in the USA. Global warming is a serious problem, yet the Paris Accord was not the way to address the problem because it allowed China to keep polluting while placing expensive restrictions on the USA.

[valpo95]

As said before,  budget cuts and staff reductions are not unique to Valpo. Some of you may have seen this before, yet on Monday, Northwestern University announced budget shortfall of $90M, and 250 staff furloughs.

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/05/11/campus/president-schapiro-announces-anticipated-budget-deficit-250-staff-furloughs/

[vu84v2]

Marquette announced a $15M shortfall for the Spring 2020 semester and has furloughed 250 employees. You are right that this is not unique to Valpo. It is essential to find the way to get as much revenue as possible in the Summer and Fall semesters in order to survive.

[wh]

May 11, 4:20 p.m. George Washington University, in Washington. D.C., is projecting losses related to the coronavirus pandemic ranging from $100 million to $300 million over the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1, the university announced Monday. The projected losses come on top of an estimated $25 million loss for the current fiscal year.

The chair of the university's Board of Trustees, Grace Speights, said it would not be prudent to use funds from GW's endowment, valued at $1.78 billion in 2019, to offset the losses, according to an article in the university publication GW Today. Thomas J. LeBlanc, the university's president, said administrators are considering options for reducing expenses including pay or benefit reductions, early retirement options, furloughs, layoffs, reorganizations, consolidations and reductions in travel, training, and other expenses.

"The reality is, because a significant share of our budget is compensation, we will need to make personnel decisions that affect all of us," LeBlanc said in a universitywide message.

[wh]

The first wave of pandemic cuts to colleges and universities
Posted on May 3, 2020 by Bryan Alexander

https://bryanalexander.org/higher-education/the-first-wave-of-pandemic-cuts-to-colleges-and-universities/

Antioch College furloughed 27 staff and cut hours and/or compensation to others.
Atlantic Cape Community College laid off about 100 staff who could not work remotely.
Bob Jones University furloughed an unspecified number of staff.
Boston University laid off more than 1600 student workers.
Bristol Community College laid off 136 part time workers.
Drew University furloughed some staff.
Guilford College furloughed 166 people, or "slightly more than half of the college's 250 non-faculty employees."
Harvard University froze all kinds of raises and projects, while cutting the salaries of its president, VP, and provost.
Johns Hopkins University announced a series of cuts, including this strategy: "divisional leaders will exercise their discretion and have to consider furloughs or layoffs when necessary to meet their financial and strategic objectives in such a constrained budget environment..."  They may face a $375 million deficit this fall.
Kent State University called for a 20% budget cut, which will be carried out by "reducing operating budgets by 20%, enacting a hiring freeze, postponing new campus construction projects, ... reducing spending on athletics," and cutting senior administrator salaries.
Keuka College furloughed an undetermined number of staff while issuing wage cuts.
Lake Superior State University will apparently commence layoffs.
Lewis-Clark State College ended around 16 staff positions and is working on cuts to faculty.
Marquette University furloughed around 250 staff, notably those who could no longer work remotely.
Merrimack College laid off 30 staff.
Oakland University cut salaries of several senior administrators.
Ohio University announced it would lay off 140 staff.  "This (is) our first significant personnel reduction," [Carly Leatherwood, a university spokesperson] said."
Portland State University will furlough 106 staff.
Rochester Institute of Technology will furlough some staff and "is prepared to introduce a salary reduction program."
Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, cut senior administration compensation and signaled it would hire fewer adjuncts this summer and fall.
Smith College cut or requested voluntary cuts to some senior administrators' compensation.
Southern Oregon University furloughed 395 staff.
Syracuse University cut some staff compensation and froze merit pay increases.
Union College furloughed 30% of its staff.
The University of Akron announced plans to cut academic programs and student athletics.
The University of Alaska will furlough 166 administrators.
The University of Arizona announced furloughs and pay cuts to a range of employees.  It also withdrew financial aid packages to grad students.
The University of Kentucky furloughed 1700 staff, nearly all in medical care.
The University of Louisville furloughed "some employees and will institute pay cuts for those earning at least $100,000..."
The University of Massachusetts Medical School furloughed 100 staff.
The University of Michigan called for cuts to senior administrator compensation as well as voluntary staff furloughs, based on expecting at least a $1 billion loss.
The University of Missouri laid off more than 40 people, mostly in their hospital.
The University of Montana laid off 63 staff (although the headline says "furlough").
The University of New Haven cut staff and faculty compensation, furloughing some.
The University of Oregon laid off 282 people.
The University of Rochester announced it would cut some senior administration compensation and furlough some staff.
The University of Tulsa furloughed a number of staff, focusing on those who cannot work remotely.  UT also had its senior leaders have their compensation hit by "a reduction of the equivalent of two weeks of our salaries..."
Several University of Vermont senior administrators saw compensation or support cuts.
The University of Wisconsin system will furlough staff and also laid off some number of student workers.
Valparaiso university furloughed 200 staff and encouraged faculty to take salary cuts.
Western Michigan University laid off more than 200 staff.
Also:

The National Governors Association and New America published a guide on how states can handle college and university closures.
The majority of campus presidents in an AAC&U poll said they expected to cut staff:

[vu72]

The first wave of pandemic cuts to colleges and universities
Posted on May 3, 2020 by Bryan Alexander

https://bryanalexander.org/higher-education/the-first-wave-of-pandemic-cuts-to-colleges-and-universities/

Antioch College furloughed 27 staff and cut hours and/or compensation to others.
Atlantic Cape Community College laid off about 100 staff who could not work remotely.
Bob Jones University furloughed an unspecified number of staff.
Boston University laid off more than 1600 student workers.
Bristol Community College laid off 136 part time workers.
Drew University furloughed some staff.
Guilford College furloughed 166 people, or "slightly more than half of the college's 250 non-faculty employees."
Harvard University froze all kinds of raises and projects, while cutting the salaries of its president, VP, and provost.
Johns Hopkins University announced a series of cuts, including this strategy: "divisional leaders will exercise their discretion and have to consider furloughs or layoffs when necessary to meet their financial and strategic objectives in such a constrained budget environment..."  They may face a $375 million deficit this fall.
Kent State University called for a 20% budget cut, which will be carried out by "reducing operating budgets by 20%, enacting a hiring freeze, postponing new campus construction projects, ... reducing spending on athletics," and cutting senior administrator salaries.
Keuka College furloughed an undetermined number of staff while issuing wage cuts.
Lake Superior State University will apparently commence layoffs.
Lewis-Clark State College ended around 16 staff positions and is working on cuts to faculty.
Marquette University furloughed around 250 staff, notably those who could no longer work remotely.
Merrimack College laid off 30 staff.
Oakland University cut salaries of several senior administrators.
Ohio University announced it would lay off 140 staff.  "This (is) our first significant personnel reduction," [Carly Leatherwood, a university spokesperson] said."
Portland State University will furlough 106 staff.
Rochester Institute of Technology will furlough some staff and "is prepared to introduce a salary reduction program."
Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, cut senior administration compensation and signaled it would hire fewer adjuncts this summer and fall.
Smith College cut or requested voluntary cuts to some senior administrator's compensation.
Southern Oregon University furloughed 395 staff.
Syracuse University cut some staff compensation and froze merit pay increases.
Union College furloughed 30% of its staff.
The University of Akron announced plans to cut academic programs and student athletics.
The University of Alaska will furlough 166 administrators.
The University of Arizona announced furloughs and pay cuts to a range of employees.  It also withdrew financial aid packages to grad students.
The University of Kentucky furloughed 1700 staff, nearly all in medical care.
The University of Louisville furloughed "some employees and will institute pay cuts for those earning at least $100,000..."
The University of Massachusetts Medical School furloughed 100 staff.
The University of Michigan called for cuts to senior administrator compensation as well as voluntary staff furloughs, based on expecting at least a $1 billion loss.
The University of Missouri laid off more than 40 people, mostly in their hospital.
The University of Montana laid off 63 staff (although the headline says "furlough").
The University of New Haven cut staff and faculty compensation, furloughing some.
The University of Oregon laid off 282 people.
The University of Rochester announced it would cut some senior administration compensation and furlough some staff.
The University of Tulsa furloughed a number of staff, focusing on those who cannot work remotely.  UT also had its senior leaders have their compensation hit by "a reduction of the equivalent of two weeks of our salaries..."
Several University of Vermont senior administrators saw compensation or support cuts.
The University of Wisconsin system will furlough staff and also laid off some number of student workers.
Valparaiso university furloughed 200 staff and encouraged faculty to take salary cuts.
Western Michigan University laid off more than 200 staff.
Also:

The National Governors Association and New America published a guide on how states can handle college and university closures.
The majority of campus presidents in an AAC&U poll said they expected to cut staff:

I guess the closing of the law school couldn't have come at a better time.  There were at least five faculty still on the payroll as we graduated our final class.  The law profs were paid a lot and now with the doors closed we save quite a bit.  Because of our reduced student body, and, having Scheele vacant, perhaps the idea of single occupancy isn't far off. 

I have heard a couple of college presidents today indicate their plan (at this point) is to be open in August.  Obviously, that can and will change if things don't get better.  On the other hand the head of California's state college system (hundreds of thousands of students and multiple campuses) said that they aren't planning to be open this coming year.

Very scary and endowment per Ce, won't save the day as those funds are earmarked for specific causes, not for general operating funds.  I suppose that, for those donors still living, their funds could be redirected with consent.

[vu84v2]

That list is very helpful, but my guess is that it is just a small fraction of what has already been done. I know that the UW system will have faculty not get paid for one day per month (sort of a non-furlough furlough).

My fear is that the Cal State announcement, which the UC system has said they will likely also do, will become the expected norm for all universities (an institutional effect in which you are considered not legitimate if you do not follow it). Fortunately, I have heard several private universities publicly respond to the Cal State announcement by saying that they are planning to have students on campus in the fall and that they are working the details of how that would work. This is the right move and is what I believe Valpo is also doing.

In reference to sports, if the Cal State and UC systems don't have students on campus it is very unlikely that they will play sports in the fall. Big impact on the Pac 12 and MWC.

[vu84v2]

May 11, 4:20 p.m. George Washington University, in Washington. D.C., is projecting losses related to the coronavirus pandemic ranging from $100 million to $300 million over the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1, the university announced Monday. The projected losses come on top of an estimated $25 million loss for the current fiscal year.

The chair of the university's Board of Trustees, Grace Speights, said it would not be prudent to use funds from GW's endowment, valued at $1.78 billion in 2019, to offset the losses, according to an article in the university publication GW Today. Thomas J. LeBlanc, the university's president, said administrators are considering options for reducing expenses including pay or benefit reductions, early retirement options, furloughs, layoffs, reorganizations, consolidations and reductions in travel, training, and other expenses.

"The reality is, because a significant share of our budget is compensation, we will need to make personnel decisions that affect all of us," LeBlanc said in a universitywide message.

Besides being a private school, this huge hit at GW may also be because it has a medical school and a hospital.

[crusader05]

The benefit of being a smaller private might mean that it's easier to manage a student body of that size. Most of Valpo's classes would be allowed to meet if there was a still a cap at less than 50 in a room (hell maybe even 25) and you can see it working to allow professors and students who are sick or concerned to use the current online tools available to work with certain lectures. Also with many students living on Valpo's campus it can be easy to quarantine or move to single occupancy as much as possible

I wonder if commuter numbers would go up. I could see, if there is this much uncertainty rolling through he fall, Students choosing to commute to a strong school like  Valpo for the first year at least rather than go to say a Butler or Marquette and risk being sent home if it flairs up again in the fall.

I also wonder about working to have labs and other inperson required things done by Thanksgiving break and allow for a transition to online after Thanksgiving Break if necessary when Peak Flu Season hits

[vu84v2]

The benefit of being a smaller private might mean that it's easier to manage a student body of that size. Most of Valpo's classes would be allowed to meet if there was a still a cap at less than 50 in a room (hell maybe even 25) and you can see it working to allow professors and students who are sick or concerned to use the current online tools available to work with certain lectures. Also with many students living on Valpo's campus it can be easy to quarantine or move to single occupancy as much as possible

I wonder if commuter numbers would go up. I could see, if there is this much uncertainty rolling through he fall, Students choosing to commute to a strong school like  Valpo for the first year at least rather than go to say a Butler or Marquette and risk being sent home if it flairs up again in the fall.

I also wonder about working to have labs and other inperson required things done by Thanksgiving break and allow for a transition to online after Thanksgiving Break if necessary when Peak Flu Season hits

In this situation, Valpo benefits from being somewhat isolated. Great point!  In regards to the idea of getting things done before Thanksgiving, you may be able to take this idea even further...start early, finish early.

[vu72]

I know that one of the concerns with getting back to campus is density in housing.  I think Valpo is in pretty good shape in this regard and may provide a path to at least having more than half of the 3500 students back.  If I didn't miss count, when adding up all the resident hall rooms, about 1500 could each have their own room if Scheele was brought back on line.  Add Seniors living off campus and perhaps 2000 would be able to live individually.  With commuters, maybe you can add another 2 or 300 more.  Our class sizes are already very low so perhaps, given all these things, Valpo may in much better shape than other schools.  Let's hope so.

[crusader05]

I believe that when counting for seniors and commuters something like 45-48% of students live off campus so there should be plenty of space even if they need to keep one dorm as a quarantine space.

[crusadermoe]

Who knew that under sold housing would become such an asset?   Indeed it is a selling point now.

[vu72]

Plans are starting to shape up regarding programs being cut:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-valparaiso-u-layoffs-st-0707-20200706-677dg7a3azdjvcdjpkczxvqqry-story.html

[valpo64]

Sometimes a reevaluation of programs  is most valuable in the long term.  At times, if the total academic programs being offered are left solely at the digression of faculty, the more the merrier .  Often a good house-keeping is needed in my opinion.   A school our size can not be everything to everyone.

[vu84v2]

Sometimes a reevaluation of programs  is most valuable in the long term.  At times, if the total academic programs being offered are left solely at the digression of faculty, the more the merrier .  Often a good house-keeping is needed in my opinion.   A school our size can not be everything to everyone.

I would add that there is a tendency in companies and other organizations to share the pain - cuts are distributed evenly. Valpo has, appropriately, already done that with pay cuts, temporary elimination of 403B contributions, etc. In regards to programs, however, Valpo cannot fall into the trap of all programs taking a cut. That just ends up with doing everything poorly (as I think Valpo64 suggests). Demand from current and prospective students should be the primary driver of where the cuts are made.

One other note: people are undoubtedly going to lose their jobs. Just because they are in an area with little demand or where Valpo retaining that program cannot be financially justified does not diminish the major contribution and commitment that they have made to the university. Yes, hard decisions are needed - but we need to be careful not to devalue the people in programs that need to trimmed back or eliminated.

[elephtheria47]

Not sure if I should post or not,  but yesterday while in Valpo I heard the entire education department will be cut and other professors are taking 12% permanent decrease in pay while having to teach more classes (due to losing coworkers). Doesn't sound good.

[usc4valpo]

My daughter is going to college at Northwest Missouri State to major in early childhood education. She visit Valpo in spring 2019 and thought it wasn't a good fit. This cut is sad but really not surprising.

[David81]

While it may be impossible to separate causal factors because of current circumstances, it's really important to try to assess how program/personnel/budget decisions were influenced due to the coronavirus situation vs. financial/market challenges unique to VU (or any other school) vs. financial/market challenges affecting higher ed regionally and nationally. In my opinion, the pandemic is deeply aggravating the latter two, highlighting existing vulnerabilities in brutal, fast-forward fashion.

I do feel very confident in saying that the pay/benefit cuts and higher teaching loads experienced by faculty are all about the pandemic. At my mid-sized, private, regional, tuition-driven university (Suffolk U. in Boston), we're experiencing the same types of cuts and teaching load hikes -- the latter prompted by the need to shrink class sizes to either (1) allow for social distancing in classrooms with courses taught by f2f instruction; or (2) create smaller sections to enhance the Zoom-based instructional environment for online courses. Faculties at schools much richer than VU and my own are going through the same thing.

What will the future bring? I believe that it all boils down to how quickly we can wrestle down this pandemic, especially via treatments and vaccines. Personally, I'm writing off the 2020-21 academic year when it comes to anything resembling normalcy. However, if effective medical interventions come on line no later than the first half of 2021, then the higher ed world can start reclaiming some sense of stability starting in 2021-22.

In the meantime, it's a stressful environment for all, and the layoffs and program closures are extremely painful.

[vu72]

I have zero idea which areas will be cut, but I doubt they will come from the professional schools.  All three are highly regarded.  As an aside, and logical reason why the football team won't be cut, is the areas of study chosen by the incoming freshman.  Of the 57 who stated an intended major, 21 have business majors, 14 have engineering majors and 2 have nursing majors.  There are also 3 biology/chemistry majors. The other 17, majors are spread out all over the place.

[valpo tundra]

There are seven departments within the College of Arts and Sciences that have been cut and will be taught out, meaning they will commit to finishing the studies of existing students but accept no more.  Several other departments within the College of Arts and Sciences will also lose a professor or two while retaining their department. Up to 22% of total faculty members will lose their jobs. Valpo is not alone in this area.

[VUGrad1314]

Is VU going to be okay? This is scary and very concerning.

[vu72]

Is VU going to be okay? This is scary and very concerning.

I have know idea. The idea that departments within Arts and Sciences will be cut/eliminated, in and of itself shouldn't cause the demise of the University. Take a look at the department list.

Again, I do not have any information on this, but my guess is that there aren't a large number of students looking for Art, Theatre, History, Philosophy or Social Work degrees in our current economic environment. Not knocking these areas of study, just a reality check. I counted 27 faculty members associated with these departments.