Cal State East Bay announces layoffs
- February 17, 2010
By Kristofer Noceda
Staff Writer, Daily Review & Bay Area News Group
HAYWARD — About 140 nonteaching staff members may face layoffs or reduced hours to help Cal State East Bay balance its shrinking budget, President Mo Qayoumi announced Tuesday.
Any reductions will take place June 30, the close of the university's fiscal year. The likely reductions are expected to save the university at least $4 million.
"A decision such as this is among the hardest an institution like ours is forced to make," Qayoumi said in a statement. "But budget realities have called for difficult decisions across the university.
"To me, the loss of valued employees and colleagues, due to no fault of their own, is one of the most difficult situations I have experienced in my work life."
The university this year is operating on a $138 million budget, and projections show that the university will run a budget of about $3 million less for the 2010-11 school year.
Furthermore, the university since 2006 has been battling a $4.2 million deficit, which has been met differently each year through a combination of one-time funding, keeping vacant positions unfilled, cutting overtime and part-time positions, and mandatory furloughs.
The university expected to finally close the deficit after experiencing an all-time enrollment high in the fall with 14,470 students taking classes.
However, budget cuts from the state forced the university to cap its enrollment this year, resulting in about a 1,000-student drop in enrollment.
A budget review team made up of students, faculty and staff members began looking at how to reduce the deficit in January, holding nine budget forums leading up to the announced layoffs.
University spokesman Kim Huggett said that 100 employees received layoff notices Tuesday, and another 40 employees were offered a reassignment to part-time positions.
The net affect, Huggett said, is that the university will have 60 fewer positions beginning July 1.
Cal State East Bay currently has 1,600 employees.
Qayoumi and officials will continue working with employee bargaining units as they work on addressing the deficit.
"As we go through this process, it will be stressful and painful," he said. "It will require no less than the best in us — to help and support each other in these most difficult of times."