This week’s personnel actions

Dear Colleagues:

As you know, significant reductions in state aid and stagnant support from Rensselaer County over a sustained period have had a severe impact on the college’s budget. The lagging economic recession – once a boon to community colleges – has been a major cause for enrollment decline recently. Combined, these factors have made it impossible to balance our budget while continuing the college’s wide breadth of offerings and services which are ever-rising in cost.The college has taken a variety of cost-cutting and revenue generating measures in recent years. Yet, operating budget shortfalls persist. As a result, this week the college completed a retrenchment and work schedule reduction plan affecting 28 non-faculty employees.This extraordinarily difficult decision is the hardest I have made during my tenure at Hudson Valley. It is not taken lightly by me, the college’s Board of Trustees or senior management. The college’s caring and dedicated employees are what make Hudson Valley an incredibly special place. However, this action reflects the need to protect access to the critical academic programs our students and our community depend upon.

For more than two years I have openly shared Hudson Valley’s fiscal challenges, and I will continue to be forthright with the college community. During the All College Meeting later this month I will discuss the state of the college and the outlook moving forward. It is more important than ever that we work together to navigate this difficult time.

Drew