Albright College has announced it is cutting more than 50 positions at the school as it deals with ongoing financial struggles.
A statement issued Thursday by Ron Scheese, president of the Albright board of trustees, announced that this week the college underwent a reduction in its workforce. It includes the elimination of 29 current staff and faculty positions, as well as 10 staff positions and 14 faculty positions left vacant from resignations and retirements.
He said in the statement that several job descriptions and roles also have been revised in order to minimize the number of people impacted.
The workforce reduction at the college is coming after what Scheese said were months of discussion with faculty, administrators, alumni, students and community stakeholders about the radical changes needed to sustain Albright for the future.
“We understand that news like this can be concerning, and we want to assure you that these decisions were not made lightly,” Scheese said in his statement. “As an alumnus, I know firsthand the lifelong value of an Albright College education.”
Scheese said the board believes the changes made this week will help the college weather its financial challenges so officials may work to strengthen their programs and position Albright for future success.
Albright spokeswoman Carey Manzolillo said Friday that the workforce reduction will not result in the elimination of any classes or programs. She added that the reductions are spread throughout different departments on campus and affects mostly staff.
The staffing announcement comes about two weeks after Scheese announced that Dr. Jacquelyn Fetrow was stepping away from her role as college president, a post she has held since 2017. Fetrow’s last day was Friday.
That statement also acknowledged that Albright is facing increasing financial pressures.
Fetrow was Albright’s 15th president, and the first Albright graduate to lead the college.
Following her departure, Fetrow is taking on the role of an Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania fellow. The association says it works to raise awareness of the benefits, value and quality of Pennsylvania’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities.
Source: Berkshire mont