Historically Black Savannah State University in Georgia has announced that 26 faculty members have been laid off and will not be returning for the 2019-2020 academic year due to budget cuts. This comes after two consecutive years of declining enrollment and decreased state funding. The university experienced a 10.6 percent decrease in enrollment in the fall 2017 semester, and a 7.9 percent decrease this fall.
In October, Savannah State President Cheryl Dozier wrote a letter to the university’s faculty and staff stating that the institution was considering layoffs because of a loss in revenue. “While we have taken some interim measures to address the loss of revenue, such as eliminating vacant positions and placing restrictions on new hires, these are not sustainable options given the budgetary circumstances,” she wrote.
The university has established a Strategic Alignment of Resources planning committee to help align the university’s resources to match its priorities including student success, student recruitment and retention, campus safety/security, and increased institutional efficiency. Additionally, the 26 laid off faculty members will receive support from the Human Resources Office, which will use the University System of Georgia applicant clearinghouse and contact other colleges and universities in the system about employment opportunities.
