Tuesday, September 24, 2013

September 2013: ECSU Announces Layoffs Required to Address Budget Shortfall

ECSU Announces Layoffs Required to Address Budget Shortfall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--- To address a $5-million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2013-2014 caused by state funding cuts and declining enrolling, Elizabeth City State University today announced a reduction in force that will impact 46 employees in departments across the university.  All affected individuals were notified earlier today that their employment at ECSU will end in the next several weeks.

Earlier this month, ECSU interim Chancellor Charles Becton and UNC President Tom Ross informed campus faculty and staff of the magnitude of the budget shortfall.  Because personnel costs account for about 80% of ECSU’s operating expenditures, the institution’s budget could not be balanced without significant staffing reductions. 

In sharing news of the layoffs with the campus community, Chancellor Becton said, “In making painful, but necessary, reduction-in-force decisions, our first priority has been to protect classroom instruction for students.   We evaluated every school, division, and department to identify potential cost savings.  In an effort to minimize the impact on employees, we first eliminated 41 vacant positions and discontinued 34 temporary employment contracts. Although we made no staffing cuts in public safety, given the need to maintain a safe campus environment, most other areas of the university were affected.” 

He added that impacted employees will be treated with compassion and dignity during a very difficult time for everyone involved.  ECSU has established a Transition Center where affected employees will have access to outplacement services, employee transition services, computer resources, and an on-campus job fair. Northeastern Workforce Development will also be on-site to provide additional services.  ECSU will work with affected employees individually and collectively to support their efforts to pursue other career opportunities. 

“In moving forward, ECSU must now focus on leveraging our strengths and make the changes required to operate with reduced staffing levels,” said Chancellor Becton.

“We are here for our students, and these staff reductions must not affect the quality of the classroom instruction and services provided to them. ECSU has served generations of students, the Elizabeth City community, and the State of North Carolina.  The institution remains academically strong, and as we adapt and rebuild for the future, we will continue to stand on our core values: Accountability, Diversity, Excellence and Student Preparation.”    

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Kesha Williams
Director of Media Relations| University Relations and Marketing
Elizabeth City State University
1704 Weeksville Rd. | Elizabeth City, NC  27909
Phone:  252.335.3686 | Fax:  252.335.3769


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