Seven full-time YSU employees laid off

Multiple faculty contracts not renewed for fall amid program cuts

YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University officials have confirmed the layoffs of seven full-time faculty members who were told earlier this week that their contracts won't be renewed for the fall 2022 semester.

By not renewing the seven one-year contracts, the university likely will save about $477,000 at a time of declining enrollment and budget concerns, Ron Cole, university spokesman, said Wednesday.

Cole was unable to name the seven faculty members, but said two each are from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. The other three are lecturers in the Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education, he noted.

The reductions also were intended to align with the findings of a comprehensive review of YSU's estimated 145 programs, a process that began more than a year ago, to better determine which ones were most poised to have "future relevance and future potential for enrollment growth," Cole explained.

YSU's student enrollment for the fall 2021 semester was 11,298, which was a drop of 1,398 students from one year earlier.

Neal McNally, vice president for finance and business operations, projected a possible $10 million revenue shortfall if enrollment continues to decrease in the 2022-23 school year.

The cuts also are related to November's decision to eliminate 26 associate's, bachelor's and master's level academic programs, all of which had few or no students. They are slated to be discontinued beginning next fall. Only 87 students were in the 26 programs, which is under 1 percent of enrollment, administration officials have said.

Nevertheless, the 26 will be deactivated in a way that will allow the students in them to finish their studies and graduate, Brien Smith, provost and vice president of academic affairs, has said.

The move, however, led to several peaceful on-campus protests, including one in early December in which about 60 students, faculty members and supporters took part.

Another driving force behind the university's decision to not renew the seven contracts was working toward achieving a financially leaner university that will provide students with further opportunities to be successful, Cole explained.

"The main focus for us is to run as efficiently and productively as possible so we can offer quality programs that lead to students' continued success. These actions and decisions are necessary for our long-term welfare and to position ourselves for continued success," he said, adding that it was a difficult decision to not renew the contracts.

Mark Vopat, the YSU-Ohio Education Association's spokesman, noted that the faculty union has hired a financial consultant to evaluate the university's budget. The move also was "an attempt to protect faculty from further slashing of the academic sector," he said in an email.

The YSU-OEA also arranged with several members of YSU's Senate Executive Committee for the consultant to present his findings to the Academic Senate "in the interest of full transparency, and to give anyone a chance to ask questions about his data and / or conclusions," Vopat said.

The union anticipates the report will be finished this fall, he added.

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