St. John Fisher is among the latest local colleges and universities to announce cost-cutting measures in line with the effects of the coronavirus.
In a letter to the campus community on Wednesday, Fisher President Gerard Rooney said that among the steps the college is taking is to temporarily furlough a number of staff members.
He said approximately 15% of full-time employees and a number of part-time employees are being furloughed. The college will cover medical benefits during the furloughs. Rooney said the expectation is to bring the employees back on the job on or around August 1, assuming Fisher can resume normal operations.
Rooney also said that he, vice presidents and deans will take salary reductions. Also, graduated college-wide salary reductions will be implemented for all faculty and staff in the new fiscal year. That decision will be re-evaluated once fall semester enrollments are known.
Rooney said that Fisher is planning summer courses to be fully online. The college announced recently that tuition, room and board and fees will be held flat in the new college year.
Rooney wrote that he recognizes, “these actions are extraordinary, but they are also necessary.” And he said that these steps will help to position Fisher for continued institutional success.