HAMPTON — Thomas Nelson Community College is laying off 45 of its employees in order to save money.
In a letter sent to the campus community, TNCC President John Dever wrote the college has “no choice” but to cut the university’s staff.
“We have done much to bring better order and control to that portion of the budget that provides for other than personnel services, equipment, supplies, utilities, contractual services, etc.” Dever wrote. “But by far the largest portion of the budget is made up of personnel services, salaries paid to faculty, staff, and administrators, and therefore the major reductions must be made there.”
Dever added in order to have a “balance budget” for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, the college would have to cut $1.8 million and about $3.6 million in personnel expenses, respectively.
The jobs include 10 administrative and professional faculty positions, 13 instructors, 19 classified staff and 3 wage employees, according to Dever’s letter.
The layoffs will be in effect starting on Jan. 1, 2020.
Dever said the staff members will find out Thursday if they are being laid off and will meet with their supervisors. On Friday, those employees will review options, benefits and resources with college’s human resources department as well as support services in the following weeks.
According to the letter, Dever said the Virginia Community College System is aware of the plan and have received permission to do so.
“It is therefore with deep regret that I announce these necessary actions,” Dever said. “At the same time, I ask that the greater Thomas Nelson community come together in support of affected colleagues, doing all that we can to ease this major transition.”
In July, TNCC sent a campus wide email regarding the layoffs due to the college spending more than $1.4 million over its 2019 fiscal year budget. See the letter here.
Just weeks before the layoff announcement, TNCC said it planned on spending $38 million to replace three buildings which house campus safety, administrative offices, a utility building with the human resources department, college board and a multipurpose room.
RELATED STORY: Here’s how TNCC plans on spending $38 million
