Quinte News continues to follow the faculty layoffs at Loyalist College.
A source tells us the following message was sent to all employees on behalf of Mark Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of Loyalist College.
“In the interest of ongoing internal communication, I want to provide an update on the next steps in our workforce planning process.
On Aug. 19, the college provided notice to the Local OPSEU President and the College Employment Stability Committee Members (CESC) under Article 27.05 of the academic employee collective agreement regarding faculty layoffs.
Thirty-six full-time faculty positions have been identified as affected, connected to program suspensions announced earlier this year and program sustainability.
In the coming days, the CESC will meet to work through the steps outlined in the collective agreement.
This process will take several months to complete, and while the discussions are confidential, we are committed to keeping you informed at key milestones.
While these decisions are driven by our current operating realities, we recognize and deeply value the contributions of the faculty members whose positions are affected, and the meaningful impact of their dedication on our students, programs, and the Loyalist community.
This news may be unsettling and cause stress and uncertainty, which makes it especially important to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being. Support is available through the Employee Assistance Program offered at no cost to all employees and eligible dependent family members.
EAP is a confidential and voluntary service that provides up to 10 counselling sessions, along with other supports and resources.
As always, our top priority remains supporting our students. We will continue to deliver high-quality programs and services and play an important role in our community.
I recognize how difficult these decisions are and the impact they have on everyone at the college.
Please know that your resilience and commitment during this time of uncertainty are valued and appreciated. The strength of Loyalist College rests in our shared dedication to our values and to one another. “
From fall 2024 to this most recent announcement, faculty will be lowered by about 48 per cent.
Officials with the local OPSEU will be meeting Monday evening to discuss the colleges announcement.
We told you Sunday the college was offered a loan from the province
Our original story Saturday discussed cash flow issues the school has been dealing with.
