The Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) seemed like the perfect solution for minimizing the effects of the University’s financial troubles on the staff: the administration claimed that the program would prevent layoffs while providing an attractive opportunity for staff already considering retirement. Unfortunately, the program did not accomplish all that it was supposed to, for we know that one staff member was laid off after declining the package, and another accepted it because she feared that she would be fired if she didn’t.
The fact that the program has not actually prevented layoffs has precipitated a culture of fear not just among staff, but also throughout the University community. The unexpected layoffs prove that the administration is not admitting to the serious effects of the financial crisis on the integrity of our University.
There’s clearly something wrong with the administration’s plans for addressing the financial crisis if a staff member who has worked at Wesleyan for 23 years is laid off after declining the VSP. As helpful as the VSP has been for those staff desiring to retire, it seems that the package was not as voluntary as it first seemed. The firing of such an experienced staff member will clearly have an impact on the dynamics of the staff, in addition to the staff’s morale as the security of their jobs comes into question.
Shirley Lawrence, a venerable staff member who has been involved with the East Asian Studies program since its inception, took the VSP out of fear of being laid off. If such a crucial member of the staff feared for her job, it is logical to assume that this fear has gripped many other staff members, as well.
This also brings into question the administration’s commitment to maintaining an experienced staff: according to Lawrence, she is being replaced by someone who will not only be working for fewer hours, but will also have less experience, which could significantly impede the operations of the East Asian Studies program.
The administration’s lack of upfront communication about their financial plans has created an insecure environment that promotes the belief that the University has become more impersonal and business oriented than ever before.
Even if the administration is telling the truth when they say that the VSP has nothing to do with subsequent layoffs, they should be assuring the staff that their jobs are actually safe. The administration should better utilize the insights of the University community to find other solutions to its financial troubles. Now, more than ever, the administration must prove that the University’s integrity will not be sacrificed for monetary reasons.
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