Up to 20% of staff, faculty may experience layoffs.
SUFFERN, NY – As first reported by RocklandNews.com, SUNY Rockland Community College (RCC), a key educational institution in Ramapo, New York, is facing significant financial distress, leading to potential faculty layoffs that have raised deep concerns among the college community. The situation was again confirmed by the college’s President, Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo, at a public meeting on Monday, Jan 29, 2024 – at the College.
The severity of the college’s financial situation was further highlighted by Victor Anaya, Vice President of Finance & Administration. Anaya reported significant cash flow problems, stating, “Our cash flow is bad,” and expressed concerns about meeting payroll and paying bills.
According to RCC representatives, the college is confronting a $4 million deficit. In response, President Rápalo announced the need for further cost-cutting measures but has not yet specified the extent of the impending layoffs and furloughs.
Monday evening, the impact of these financial challenges on faculty and staff was brought to the forefront. The meeting was attended by about 70 individuals, including members of the Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers Local 1871 and the Rockland Community College Federation of Administrators, highlighting the community’s concern over the financial situation.
Kris Baker, president of the Federation of Teachers local, underscored the potential impact on the faculty. He indicated that up to 20% of faculty members might face layoffs, a move he emphasized should be a last resort in an educational institution. The faculty’s role extends beyond teaching; they are instrumental in “club facilitation, scholarship assistance, counseling services, crisis intervention, and support in students’ academic advancement”, such as writing recommendation letters.
Corry Spring, Vice President of the Rockland Community College Federation of Administrators and Director of Admissions for the college, spoke about the recent layoffs among the administrative staff and the challenges in managing the workload due to the reduction in staff.
The college’s structural deficit was initially identified in the fall by board members as approximately $3.4 million. According to several RCC staff members who wished to remain anonymous, the amount was considerably more, and pointed to the former RCC President Michael Baston’s numerous +$100k VP hiring practices, as well as an IT contract signed before his sudden departure that included a considerable price tag.
Subsequent actions taken by the board in November 2023 included the elimination of nine administrative positions and the implementation of nine days of furloughs during the first half of 2024 for faculty, administrators, and other key employees. These steps, combined with others, were estimated to yield savings of around $1.6 million.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, SUNY Rockland Community College’s operating costs were approximately $67.2 million, as per State University of New York documents. The budget was financed through student tuition and fees (36.2%), state aid (23.3%), contributions from Rockland County and other counties (34.3%), and other fees (6.2%).
Faculty members like Kris Baker have voiced concerns over the impact of faculty cuts on student services and the quality of education. The faculty’s involvement in various aspects of student life and their contribution to the overall educational experience is significant.
Elizabeth Troutner, president of the Rockland Community College Federation of Administrators, was unable to attend the meeting, due to already being on furlough.