Coastal Carolina will cut jobs in addition to furloughs forced by the coronavirus pandemic
Coastal Carolina University will cut jobs as part of its efforts to reduce expenses that have been necessitated by the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
A “reduction in force” is included in the second phase of a three-phase cost-cutting plan, according to Martha Hunn, the university’s Associate Vice President and Chief Communication Officer.
The second phase includes the staff reduction and previously-confirmed furloughs for most employees and is nearing completion, said Hunn, who provided a statement Saturday morning from CCU president David DeCenzo:
“While we know this measure represents a very necessary reduction in the university’s expenses, we clearly understand that, more than anything, these changes impact the people of CCU who, along with their families, will suffer the stresses of losing their jobs. We would never have anticipated Coastal Carolina University would experience such a tough period, but this global pandemic continues to impact our very way of life, and has certainly tested and challenged us like no other event in Coastal’s history.”
Hunn said DeCenzo shared with staff on April 24 the three-phase plan he anticipated would be necessary to stabilize the budget. The first phase included an evaluation of operations and payroll to identify savings, and the third phase includes possible further cuts in operations and payroll once enrollment for the 2020 fall semester is determined.
Hunn said the university will not provide further details on the job cuts.
A vast majority of CCU employees will be furloughed for up to 20 days, according to a plan obtained by The Sun News that has been approved by the S.C. General Assembly.
Employees making more than $35,751 will be furloughed for 20 days without pay, multiple sources confirmed.
Other employees may see furloughs up to 15 days depending on their salaries. Those making between $33,101 and $33,600 will have one furlough day; between $33,601 and $34,350 will have five days; $34,351 and $35,000 will have 10 days; and $35,001 and $35,750 will have 15 days.
Furloughs can be taken throughout the 2021 fiscal year, which began July 1, and the plan is designed to save the university $7 million.
CCU has previously announced it will not raise tuition, which may help some students afford enrollment but will contribute to budget constraints. University leaders expect a 15 percent reduction in revenue across the board, according to the furlough plans, including a decrease in enrollment numbers.
Statehouse leaders passed a budget that maintained current spending levels, meaning CCU won’t get additional money from the state.
Joe Moglia, who is chairman of athletics, executive director of football and an executive advisor to CCU’s president, said he will forego his annual salary of $177,000 for the 2020-21 school year to assist the university financially.
Higher education institutions across the country are in similar situations because of the coronavirus and have announced cost-cutting measures.
In South Carolina, furloughed employees may seek unemployment benefits.
CCU’s website lists 514 full-time faculty, 922 full-time staff and 1,288 student staff positions, and there were 10,484 students enrolled in the fall 2019-20 semester, including approximately 9,900 undergraduate students.
The university released on June 15 a preliminary reentry plan that outlines campus preparations for the return of students for the fall semester.
CCU football players were allowed to return to voluntary workouts on campus beginning June 8. Required team workouts are set to begin July 13, enhanced training would follow beginning July 24, and a normal preseason camp would begin Aug. 7. The football season is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 at South Carolina.
The enhanced training period from July 24-Aug. 6 is new this year and allows athletes to spend up to 20 hours on coach-supervised non-contact activities including weight training, conditioning, film review, walk-through practices and meetings.
Athletes are being tested for coronavirus upon their return, but the university is not immediately releasing the results of those tests. Instead, it will regularly update online the overall number of reported COVID-19 positive tests among all students once the general student body returns to campus without singling out specific factions of students, according to a university statement in mid-June.
The preliminary reentry plan includes safety guidelines and COVID-19 spread mitigation practices, and is being led by the Coastal Comeback Planning Team comprised of more than 100 faculty, staff and students from all areas of campus, divided into 10 committees that each focus on specific functions of campus operations.
Former Sun News reporter Tyler Fleming contributed to this article.
This story was originally published July 4, 2020 at 11:36 AM.