St. Edward’s University, a Catholic University founded in Austin in 1885, has announced plans to cut about 10% of its workforce and consolidate various academic programs.
This comes after the university already cut six sports teams as a cost-saving measure.
University endowments have been hit in a stock market selloff triggered by the coronavirus outbreak, even as normal income flows for universities also have suffered, including alumni giving, tuition, and housing revenues.
St. Edward’s says it is planning a “safe, socially-distanced, on-campus Fall 2020 semester.” But while students will be coming back to campus, some professors and staff won’t be.
President George Martin released a statement Wednesday saying that in order to balance its fiscal 2021 budget, the university had to cut about 10% of employee positions. Human resources officers on the same day began informing affected staff members in group Zoom calls, according to press reports elsewhere.
The exact number of layoffs has not been confirmed. (Editor’s Note: After publication of this article, St. Edward’s filed a notice with the Texas Workforce Commission indicating 95 layoffs effective May 31).
Martin commented, “Our organizational restructuring impacted every area of the university. …the plan avoids a budget deficit in Fiscal Year 2021, a risk that would jeopardize the future of the university. I am confident our plan will lead St. Edward’s to better days ahead.”
The new budget calls for consolidating five academic schools into four, with several programs transitioning between schools. Kinesiology, for example, moves to the School of Natural Sciences from the School of Human Development and Education.
Some non-tenure track, visiting faculty appointments and academic contracts will not be continued. Additionally, the university will reduce housing occupancy in order to provide a “socially-distanced residential experience” for students in the Fall. To achieve this, the university is cutting positions for “live-in professional staff.”
Certain health positions will be cut too, and health services will be provided via a new partnership with Baylor Scott & White.
Martin stated, “These proactive restructuring efforts strengthen the university’s ability to absorb changes related to COVID-19 while continuing to provide a formative, holistic student experience and prioritize the health and safety of our students and employees with a strong commitment to the Holy Cross Mission.”
