Savannah State University announces layoffs in a cost-saving measure

"Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment..."

"Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment..."

RADAR AND HOUR- BY-HOUR FORECAST. THE APP IS AVAILABLE IN THE GOOGLE PLAY AND APPLE APP STORES. ALL NEW AT 6 .. SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY IS LAYING OFF SOME OF ITS STAFF .. AND FREEZING OPEN POSITIONS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF AN ENROLLMENT DROP. OUR BROOKE BUTLER TALKED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT ABOUT IT. SHE JOINS US LIVE NOW FROM OUR NEWSROOM. AND BROOKE, SHE TELLS YOU NEARLY 2 DOZEN EMPLOYEES .. ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. YEAH - THEIR LAST DAY WILL BE JUNE 30TH. THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BE HER LAST DAY - SINCE SHE IS RESIGNING. 13:37:37 SO WE WILL BE LEAVING TOGETHER :39 SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY - IS IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION. WHILE THE CAMPUS WAS QUIET FRIDAY... A LOT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. :57 WE'RE VERY SAD TO HAVE TO LOSE MORE STAFFING HERE AT SAVANNAH STATE :04 THE UNIVERSITY SENT OUT THIS NOTICE FRIDAY - INFORMING THE PUBLIC THAT 23 OF ITS EMPLOYEES - ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. 13:36:04 UNFORTUNATELY DUE OT THE BUDGET CUTS WE HAVE AND REALLY ITS A BUDGET DEFICIT WE HAVE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 WE'RE HAVING TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO PREPARE FOR THAT :18 THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO FREEZING VACANT POSITIONS - AND IS CUTTING DOWN ON ITS SPENDING. THIS IS ALL THE RESULT OF A DROP IN ENROLLMENT. BUT BALLARD WASHINGTON INSISTS - THE STUDENTS SHOULDN'T FEEL TOO MUCH OF AN IMPACT. 13:37:09 NO SERVICES SHOULD BE HARMED BY THE REDUCTIONS WE ARE REDUCING THE NUMBERS BUT WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING ANY ONE PARTICULAR THING :20 SHE SAYS THE LAST DAY FOR THE LAID OF EMPLOYEES WILL BE JUNE 30TH. THAT'S ALSO - HER OWN LAST DAY. 13:33:55 SOMETIMES YOU GET TO THE POINT THAT TIS TIME YOU NEED TO STEP ASIDE TO LET SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE FURTHER OVER :06 BALLARD SAYS - SHE DECIDED TO RESIGN - SO SHE CAN SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE ONES SHE LOVES. 13:34:41 CHILDREN DONT SAY LITTLE OR COLLEGE AGE FOR TOO LONG SO I NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME BEING A MOM :50 THATS NOT TO SAY I WONT CONTINUE WORKING BUT BEING A COLLEGE PRESIDENT IS MORE THAN A FULL TIME JOB :55 BUT SHE INSISTS...THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE NEW, INTERIM PRESIDENT. 13:35:22 CYNTHIA ALEXANDER AND I AHVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS AT THE SYSTEM OFFICE :27 I KNOW WHAT SHE IS CAPABLE OF AND I KNOW SHE WILL COME HERE AND DO A GREAT JOB :33 BROOKE, HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DOES S- S-U EMPLOY? SHANNON - BALLARD WASHINGTON TELLS ME THERE ARE JUST UNDER 500 STAFF

Savannah State University announces layoffs in a cost-saving measure

"Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment..."

Almost two dozen Savannah State University employees are being laid off in a cost-saving measure, officials announced Friday afternoon."Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment. The difficult decision comes as colleges and universities across the nation are dealing with similar downward enrollment trends," SSU said in a statement.Twenty-three employees were notified early Friday that they will lose their jobs by June 30, 2023.“Savannah State University is its people. Whenever we must make reductions, it deeply impacts our campus and community,” SSU President Kimberly Ballard-Washington said. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make as we value all employees."The university has also frozen vacant positions and is taking additional measures to reduce expenditures.Savannah State is the oldest institution of higher learning in Savannah and the oldest public Historically Black College and University in Georgia.Friday's announcement comes days after SSU's president submitted her resignation citing personal reasons. She told WJCL 22 she wants to spend more time with her family."Children don't stay little or college-age for too long, so I need to spend some time being a mom," she said. "That's not to say I won't continue working, but being a college president is more than a full time job."Officials said from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2023, the university’s state appropriation allocation fell by $5.4 million due to declining enrollment. For the same reason, tuition revenue over the same period has decreased by more than $5 million. With the state’s funding formula based on enrollment, SSU is also preparing for additional reductions for the next two budget cycles in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025.According to a story in Forbes from February 2022, when compared to their predominantly white counterparts, the nation's Black land-grant universities have been underfunded by at least $12.8 billion over the last three decades."The university values and appreciates the efforts of all the affected employees and will miss their contribution in service to the campus and students. It will work closely with those impacted by today’s notice to support their transition," Ballard-Washington said.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

SAVANNAH, Ga. —

Almost two dozen Savannah State University employees are being laid off in a cost-saving measure, officials announced Friday afternoon.

"Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment. The difficult decision comes as colleges and universities across the nation are dealing with similar downward enrollment trends," SSU said in a statement.

Twenty-three employees were notified early Friday that they will lose their jobs by June 30, 2023.

“Savannah State University is its people. Whenever we must make reductions, it deeply impacts our campus and community,” SSU President Kimberly Ballard-Washington said. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make as we value all employees."

The university has also frozen vacant positions and is taking additional measures to reduce expenditures.

Savannah State is the oldest institution of higher learning in Savannah and the oldest public Historically Black College and University in Georgia.

Friday's announcement comes days after SSU's president submitted her resignation citing personal reasons. She told WJCL 22 she wants to spend more time with her family.

"Children don't stay little or college-age for too long, so I need to spend some time being a mom," she said. "That's not to say I won't continue working, but being a college president is more than a full time job."

Officials said from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2023, the university’s state appropriation allocation fell by $5.4 million due to declining enrollment. For the same reason, tuition revenue over the same period has decreased by more than $5 million. With the state’s funding formula based on enrollment, SSU is also preparing for additional reductions for the next two budget cycles in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025.

According to a story in Forbes from February 2022, when compared to their predominantly white counterparts, the nation's Black land-grant universities have been underfunded by at least $12.8 billion over the last three decades.

"The university values and appreciates the efforts of all the affected employees and will miss their contribution in service to the campus and students. It will work closely with those impacted by today’s notice to support their transition," Ballard-Washington said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Savannah State University announces layoffs in a cost-saving measure

"Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment..."

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