In a statement released by Dan Forbush and President Glotzbach yesterday the College explained its decision to lay off as many as 70 staff members in response to the economic battering we’ve received over the past year. The school needs to cut about $4 million from its $121 million budget because of a reduction in endowment, tuition and interest income.

Though contract buyouts and early retirements may lessen that number to 30 the cuts are expected to come in Feburary and mean that Skidmore will join the growing list of colleges and universities cutting staff to deal with a increasingly combative economic realities.

Dan Forbush, from the Communications Office, said layoffs would be conducted across college departments only after an analysis is completed to determine which functions could be eliminated or cut back. He added that tenured and tenure-track faculty would not be affected. In addition to a series of previously covered cost-saving measures and these lay-offs the College will also extend its computer replacement cycle.

Forbush said in a prepared statement

“We certainly want to focus on creating a revived foundation that again permits us to invest appropriately in our people programs and physical plant, which includes technology…We’re committed to the college’s fundamental mission, which is making the best possible educational opportunities available to our students.”

<via Times Union>