University leadership called for a hold on hiring in response to tuition revenues falling below the projected level and operating budget. The information was shared in an email sent to staff and faculty Aug. 23, just five hours after fall convocation.
“To ensure we meet the budgeted net income we will put a hold on hiring, continue to monitor revenues and expenses closely, and provide an update on next steps at the end of November,” the email, signed by Chancellor Keane and President Schuster, stated.
Despite surging enrollment, Webster University is still in the throes of a financial crisis, working to recover from a $37 million deficit in the 2022-2023 school year.
Keane is working to relieve some of Webster’s financial hardships.
“We need to focus on managing our operating costs, just as any organization that wants to thrive over time has to do,” Keane said. “The hiring pause provides us with an opportunity to manage short-term costs as we begin exploring our business model and strategy for the future.”
The hold on hiring leaves positions open across campus. Faculty and staff will have to continue to adapt to shifts in workload as roles stay open. This “extra work” was acknowledged in the email sent to faculty and staff.
“We want to express our gratitude for the sacrifices and extra work taken on by so many of you over the last few years,” the email stated. “It is that commitment that will ensure a thriving future for our University.”
Nathan Coleman, Webster Staff Alliance (WSA) president, told The Journal that the WSA was alerted of the hold on hiring prior to the email being sent out.
“Most staff members feel like they have had duties and responsibilities added to their jobs that have made it more and more difficult,” Coleman said.
Faculty Senate President Julie Palmer says that alongside this hiring pause, steps including “streamlining, consolidating and eliminating” will be taken to reach a stable financial status.
Part of that elimination could be program or budget cuts.
Scott Jensen, School of Communications professor and Faculty Senate member, thinks cuts are inevitable, but hopes the student experience is prioritized in the process.
“I think Webster’s strength continues to be the way we engage students and prepare them for life outside of Webster,” Jensen said. “I hope that as we make cuts and get back to solid ground, that we continue to nurture that piece of who we are.”
Although there is a pause on hiring for faculty and staff campus wide, there are some exceptions.
“The chancellor and university leadership team made it clear that there would be an ad hoc committee put together that would review any requests to go ahead and hire someone on a case-by-case basis.” Coleman said. “They’re mostly looking to determine if a position is mission critical.”
Kelly-Kate Pease, College of Humanities and Social Sciences professor and Faculty Senate member, believes this is a step in the right direction to turn the financial circumstances at Webster around.
“We’re going to have to reorganize the university in such a way that we’re not hemorrhaging money,” Pease said.
She urges the university’s members to adapt to the changes being made.
“It’s important that the faculty and the staff give the chancellor the breathing room to get a handle on what’s going on so that we can begin to make the changes that are necessary.”
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