State cutbacks and state-frozen tuition rates led to the layoffs of 202 Ivy Tech Community College employees, President Sue Ellsperman said Friday. The cost-cutting amounted to $54 million to resolve the shortfall, she said.
There were 13 layoffs at the Lake County campus and 10 at the Valparaiso campus.
The highest number of layoffs, which began Friday, came at the school’s Systems Office in Indianapolis, which had 44.
“This is a challenging moment for our College, but I know Ivy Tech is strong. I remain confident in our resilience and in our commitment to our students and to one another,” Ellspermann said in a letter to employees.
Overall, the layoffs represented 2.8% of the total workforce. Ivy Tech will continue to maintain 19 campuses across the state.
The layoffs impacted 5.3% of the college’s 180 full-time workers, including 38 faculty members, 162 staff and two administrators.
The workers will receive a separation package.
Ellsperman said the cuts included 5% in state funding, and she said the State Budget Agency may withhold another 5% of allocated funding totaling $54 million over a two-year period. The Commission for Higher Education also recommended no tuition increase.
In a separate letter to state legislators, Ellspermann told them Ivy Tech provided $5.6 million in reduced fees for students and a $4 million savings for students in textbook savings in the past two years.
“Staffing reductions are always difficult decisions. Every individual impacted has made meaningful contributions to our students, our campuses, and our state. These changes do not reflect their work, but rather the financial reality we currently face. We are truly grateful for their service to Ivy Tech,” she told lawmakers.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
