OT: SLU Lays Off 23 to Address Budget Deficit.

[HoosierPal]

 

[Old guy]

The news of SLU laying off over 20 staff members due to budget deficits is not good news. Somebody is going to have to make a decision sooner or later about reallocation of available funds and additional layoffs because laying off 20 people will not achieve the $40 M in budget cut savings they are aiming for. Layoffs cause fears and resentments among employees, this includes staff, faculty, and any contractors working for the school. Not knowing that the layoffs are over and done generally decreases the effectiveness of employee work, the longer the process takes, the more disorganized the company becomes. Layoffs are painful, it is best to eliminate all employees that are required to yield the necessary level of budget savings as fast as possible. After the layoffs are completed a major meeting of all remaining employees should be held, either in person or via electronic means, to assure everyone that the layoffs are completed and everyone attending the meeting will not be laid off. This minimizes the level of disorganization in the working place after a layoff. Remember that  just about everybody can figure out that laying off 20 people will not produce $40 M in budget cuts. 

[WUH]

Google budget cuts and the name of almost any college or university and you will find a recent story.

And no, a sweeping layoff based on projected budgets 2-3 years from now is not the way.

[Lord Elrond]

Welcome to the future of universities in this nation for the next 20-30 years. A shrinking college age population combined with prices that are way to high for most people to afford. Borrowing the money doesn’t seem like a great idea either, it just puts you in too much debt to repay with the return just not worth it. Universities need to reduce expenses somehow, while enhancing the value they give to students somehow.

[MusicCityBilliken]

Did they say where or what departments suffered the lay offs?

According to wikipedia SLU has 8,022 academic and administrative staff, laying off only 23 does not seem to be much of a sacrifice unless you are one of the 23.

When I was at SLU in the early 70s, SLU was suffering major fiscal issues. Seem to recall the Schools of Engineering and Dentistry just disappeared. Recall 2 engineering students who were on my floor in the Gries had to transfer to Florida State because the program no longer existed. That was some major heavy duty cuts.

[slu72]

31 minutes ago, MusicCityBilliken said:

Did they say where or what departments suffered the lay offs?

According to wikipedia SLU has 8,022 academic and administrative staff, laying off only 23 does not seem to be much of a sacrifice unless you are one of the 23.

When I was at SLU in the early 70s, SLU was suffering major fiscal issues. Seem to recall the Schools of Engineering and Dentistry just disappeared. Recall 2 engineering students who were on my floor in the Gries had to transfer to Florida State because the program no longer existed. That was some major heavy duty cuts.

I remember those days. The one thing I couldn’t reconcile was in 70 they decided to start a hockey program. Rumor had it it was financed by the Blues and the Arens. Still, it never made sense to me as there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I do feel as though many universities are facing a rough financial future these days. Anyone know how big the deficit is? 

[willie]

2 hours ago, MusicCityBilliken said:

Did they say where or what departments suffered the lay offs?

According to wikipedia SLU has 8,022 academic and administrative staff, laying off only 23 does not seem to be much of a sacrifice unless you are one of the 23.

When I was at SLU in the early 70s, SLU was suffering major fiscal issues. Seem to recall the Schools of Engineering and Dentistry just disappeared. Recall 2 engineering students who were on my floor in the Gries had to transfer to Florida State because the program no longer existed. That was some major heavy duty cuts.

According to the news on radio all the layoffs are from the administrative staff none from the academic side. 

[cheeseman]

2 hours ago, slu72 said:

I remember those days. The one thing I couldn’t reconcile was in 70 they decided to start a hockey program. Rumor had it it was financed by the Blues and the Arens. Still, it never made sense to me as there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I do feel as though many universities are facing a rough financial future these days. Anyone know how big the deficit is? 

The owners of the Blues was involved because they saw it as a way to increase interest long term in hockey.  Where they right who knows.

[willie]

22 minutes ago, cheeseman said:

The owners of the Blues was involved because they saw it as a way to increase interest long term in hockey.  Where they right who knows.

Sidney Salomon . Wanted another tenant for the Arena. Concessions and interest. 

[Old guy]

4 hours ago, Lord Elrond said:

Welcome to the future of universities in this nation for the next 20-30 years. A shrinking college age population combined with prices that are way to high for most people to afford. Borrowing the money doesn’t seem like a great idea either, it just puts you in too much debt to repay with the return just not worth it. Universities need to reduce expenses somehow, while enhancing the value they give to students somehow.

Let's face it, there are too many colleges and Universities in the US for the number of college age students. This means that you must make up for the lack of native (meaning American born) students with foreign students. I will agree that a large number of colleges and Universities may close doors in the next 20-30 years. I hope this situation will bring some light into the mind of people thinking about large NILs and the like. Colleges and Universities will try their best to survive first of all, and only then they will deal with  spending money in their sports programs. This  should be as clear as daylight.

[WUH]

5 hours ago, MusicCityBilliken said:

According to wikipedia SLU has 8,022 academic and administrative staff, laying off only 23 does not seem to be much of a sacrifice unless you are one of the 23.

I believe this number includes SLUCare staff who are now SSM employees as of a few years ago.  The current number is much lower.  I feel for the 23 who were laid off, but I still think SLU is in a relatively strong position.  Key word: relative.

[Lord Elrond]

2 hours ago, WUH said:

I believe this number includes SLUCare staff who are now SSM employees as of a few years ago.  The current number is much lower.  I feel for the 23 who were laid off, but I still think SLU is in a relatively strong position.  Key word: relative.

Key word is relative, and I agree they are in a far better position than most. Expect  more small schools like Fontbonne to close. It’s kind of ghoulish to think this, but every small school that closes will help SLU. Too many colleges is correct. Sad for those in the schools, but it is what it is.

[Old guy]

3 hours ago, Lord Elrond said:

Key word is relative, and I agree they are in a far better position than most. Expect  more small schools like Fontbonne to close. It’s kind of ghoulish to think this, but every small school that closes will help SLU. Too many colleges is correct. Sad for those in the schools, but it is what it is.

Fontbonne has closed already. Wash U bought the campus. By the way the Fontbonne College in St. Louis is not the only Fontbonne College in the US, there was one in Boston. I am not sure if the Boston Fontbonne College is still open or not.

[willie]

Not closed yet. Another year. 

[slu92]

First off I want to say Coach Schertz and his staff are incredible. What a huge difference compared to the last 8 years. Coach Schertz is a class act second to none and am grateful Chaifetz got him to come here. That being said I noticed our AD peacocking around like Dr. Jerry Buss at the game and thought about all those people that were laid off and that moron still has his job? What does Corey Tate do? Guy and university turns down higher quality of brand new donated lights for baseball field, pisses alums off and NOW putting in lesser quality lights at a much much higher cost than free. Both soccer programs are again another over promise under deliver year. Plus I heard how much May makes and if it half true it would make you sick. A free AI app can make better decisions for free! Blame honestly starts and ends with Fred and BoT. So out of touch and behind the times. Same group that keeps May and same group that gave over $20 million to Travis Ford! Screwed up getting into the Big East, which would’ve gotten 99.9% of AD’s fired immediately, instead pinned it on Biondi who was on way out. Fred sure had the money for renovating the Louisiana, MO farmhouse/pool and his office. Whole place needs to be torn down and rebuilt with younger, smarter leadership. Until then I’m thankful for Dr. Chaifetz and Coach Schertz. 

[slu92]

I’m sure I’ll get bashed by the AD attack dogs, but the guys true character and overall record speak for itself. He’s a total fraud, propped up by two big donors. Thank god.

[Slowry]

23 hours ago, MusicCityBilliken said:

According to wikipedia SLU has 8,022 academic and administrative staff, laying off only 23 does not seem to be much of a sacrifice unless you are one of the 23.

 

With an enrollment of around 13-14k students 8k employees sounds really high.  

[WUH]

11 minutes ago, Slowry said:

With an enrollment of around 13-14k students 8k employees sounds really high.  

Please see my previous post.

[Lord Elrond]

46 minutes ago, WUH said:

Please see my previous post.

Is there an estimate for administrative staff now that SSM is running the hospital?

[TheA_Bomb]

After some analysis I have a lay off suggestion.

[Box and Won]

Apparently SLU anticipated 1,300 foreign students but only enrolled 300.  Oof.

[HoosierPal]

5 minutes ago, Box and Won said:

Apparently SLU anticipated 1,300 foreign students but only enrolled 300.  Oof.

From Channel 4

The university has seen a sharp decrease in the number of international students. There were 1,400 new international graduate students who attended in the fall of 2023, but only 300 are attending the current fall semester.

International students generally pay the full amount of tuition at $36,000 or more.

The decline in international students at SLU is part of a larger national trend, according to immigration attorney Pari Sheth.

“The number of student visas, I think, is dwindling,” he said.

Besides the U.S. government issuing fewer student visas to international students, Sheth said there are few opportunities for students to stay long-term in the U.S. after graduating.

He said for that reason, fewer students are choosing to study here.

 

The math is pretty easy....1000 students not paying $36,000 (plus or minus) is significant.

[TheA_Bomb]

7 minutes ago, Box and Won said:

Apparently SLU anticipated 1,300 foreign students but only enrolled 300.  Oof.

The AD is good with Visas should've asked them.

[Crewsorlose]

The 1300 was foreign graduate students in what they call "Global Grad." Think of Europeans coming over for the LLM one-year degrees at US law schools. Dozens of boutique master's programs for 1-2 years max. 

They got 1300-1400 students the year before and budgeted for 1200. Not everyone believes the visa story. 

[TheA_Bomb]

3 minutes ago, Crewsorlose said:

The 1300 was foreign graduate students in what they call "Global Grad." Think of Europeans coming over for the LLM one-year degrees at US law schools. Dozens of boutique master's programs for 1-2 years max. 

They got 1300-1400 students the year before and budgeted for 1200. Not everyone believes the visa story. 

Interesting. But there is also a confluence of events outside SLU's control that's hitting universities across the country hard. It's probably a good thing to drive change. In the interim it'll be hard on college employees.