By Stephen Cook
With a new president, a new organizational structure and a new semester, there has been discussion about how the campus will change over the next few months. President Joe Sopcich, in a plan to cut costs and save money, has been looking carefully at what that will mean.
“In addition to the budget and the key performance indicators, I wanted to take a hard look at the college’s organizational structure,” Sopcich said in an email sent out to college staff. “I knew I wanted to limit the number of people reporting to me directly and for divisions and departments to be grouped in ways that would enhance discussion, collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness.”
With the dismissal of certain individuals, the positions they once held have been removed as well.
“Please note that no new positions have been created as a part of this re-organization,” Sopcich said. “Based on our operational needs and budget challenges, certain departments have been eliminated.”
These changes have put staff and faculty in a state of uncertainty, according to Deb Williams, president of the faculty association.
“People are wondering, am I next?,” Williams said at the August 15 Board of Trustees meeting. “What programs are vulnerable?”
There are alternatives available to eliminating faculty positions, according to Williams.
“I hope we will never put ourselves in a position where we’re racing to the bottom line without looking at impacts of those decisions beyond the monetary one,” Williams said. “When you squeeze resources so much you start to see impacts on quality.”
Jerry Cook, Board of Trustees chair, said it is about obtaining information and making the best choices possible.
“Our challenge is to not fear the conflict but to see where the different positions are and again make the best decisions we can,” Cook said at the August 15 Board of Trustees meeting. “While we ask for information, it doesn’t always mean then that the decisions will always appease all the people that gave that insight.”
The 2013-14 college budget was approved at the August Board of Trustees meeting. Work on the 2014-15 budget will begin this October and November.
Although a one mill levy increase was decided on, Williams wondered why it was assumed taxpayers wouldn’t pay more, considering the local influence of the college.
“It’s not a drain or a parasite on the community,” Williams said. “But rather a very impacting presence.”
Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.