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| Updated: 5/17/2012 9:56 pm |
Published: 5/17/2012 9:47 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Arkansas Baptist College announced several changes coming to the school during summer in an effort to save money.
In a letter sent to Fox 16, President Fitz Hill outlined the changes that he hopes will build a “fiscally sound and sustainable institution” and alleviate cash shortfalls during the summer term.
First, 41 positions will be classified from 12 months to 9 months. Dr. Hill says these positions are non-academic and non-essential for the summer months. Also, the work week will be changed to 4 days, 8 hours per day.
Dr. Hill says that in addition to the personnel changes, thermostats will be reprogrammed, buildings will be closed, and consumption consolidated for rate renegotiation on utilities.
Letter from ABC President Fitz Hill
Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) is implementing a new operational work plan for expenditure reduction purposes. Summer personnel changes will allow the College to more effectively serve the needs of students while building a fiscally sound and sustainable institution.
Since 2006, ABC has undergone tremendous growth in students and employees. When the institution was much smaller, the need for employees performing multiple tasks was standard operating procedure. As the College grew, more specialized positions were required, but the need for all positions as 12 months was never assessed. This caused a consistent drain on College resources during the summer months.
In previous years, the College has experienced financial challenges during the summer months, with the exception of 2009 and 2010 when Congress awarded additional funding for summer Pell grants and loans. In 2010, a substantial increase in students resulted in an increased need for faculty and support staff.
Currently, the ratio of students to employees (1.4 to 1) during the summer months does not correlate to the fall and spring term ratio (5.4 to 1). In order to alleviate the reoccurring cash shortfall associated with the summer term, ABC is strategically reclassifying 41 twelve (12) month positions to nine months. These positions are primarily non-academic and considered non-essential personnel for summer months.
To further reduce summer expenses and to end the year with a balanced budget, ABC is going to a four day work week (8 hours per day), thermostats are being re-programmed, buildings are being closed and consumption is being consolidated for rate renegotiation to save on utilities.
ABC remains committed to quality educational services for our students while building a fiscally responsible institution serving the needs of its students and community.
