CVCC announces reduction in force
Due to enrollment decrease and a budget shortfall, the Board of Trustees at Catawba Valley Community College approved a reduction in force effective Jan. 1, 2023.
12/08/2022
Much like other business and institutions across the region and country, the Board enacted the measure to combat post-secondary enrollment decline, rising operational expenses, declining regional population, and changes to the educational landscape post-COVID.
The college was fortunate to retain all employees and fund all initiatives throughout the global pandemic and remained hopeful in the months following. Despite a hiring freeze and budget reductions enacted throughout 2022, the budget shortfall has created the unfortunate necessity to reduce the number of positions and reorganize departments within the college.
It was also announced this week that two fall athletic teams — volleyball and cross country along with other extracurricular programs — would be suspended until further notice.
Current winter and spring sports — men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and esports — will continue until the end of their current 2023 seasons and will be re-evaluated if the funding landscape in North Carolina changes.
While CVCC has developed nationally competitive programs, we must reduce the size of our programs due to capped student activity fees, legislative mandates and limited revenue streams.
Impacted employees have been notified and the CVCC Human Resources Office will assist affected employees during the transition. While the decision to reduce financial operations was not easy, doing so will allow the college to match employment needs to enrollment numbers; adjust resources and replenish reserves depleted during the pandemic; and adjust programs to reflect current and future regional economic and business needs.
“These were not easy decisions and it is a difficult day for Red Hawk Nation,” said CVCC President Dr. Garrett D. Hinshaw. “I had remained hopeful that our college would fully recover following COVID, but that is not the case. I regret that these decisions were necessary for those affected and appreciate their contributions to our college and our students. Despite these difficult times, I believe that Red Hawk Nation will be resilient because we are committed to serve our students, community and business partners in both Catawba and Alexander counties. We will continue to offer dynamic educational programming, superior workforce training and sincere community investment because these are the pillars of our institution.”
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