Economy

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Layoffs Imminent

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

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>

Economies of Skidmore

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

In light of the country’s current economic challenges and the impact of those challenges on Skidmore, I have asked all members of the campus community to consider ways to reduce costs and operate more efficiently. — President Glotzbach

Well, well, well. Just when you thought the election and that whole stand up and “be heard” democratic thing was over, Skidmore opens up the floor for you to give your two cents. As we’ve mentioned before, our budgets are being cut, and frankly, I’m concerned that there won’t be enough hoison sauce next semester to fill my bowl of Vietnamese pho. Now Skidmore is turning to you, the creative elite, to come up with some totally new suggestions — ones that don’t include implementing deregulated mortgage policies because, as it turns out, they ruin everything. When you’re done watching aforementioned Judge Judy in your underwear, check out the handy dandy new economic crisis page on the Skid homepage. There’s a suggestion box where you can tell Glotzy how to save some precious Benjamins, as well as links to the college’s budgets and planning, family financial planning, career help for students/alumni, and employment resources.

Glotztalks (About the Economy): pt. 2

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Twice today Glotzbach was roused from his secret presidential chambers to address the College. Today’s first college address took place in the wee hours of the morning at 8:30, just as the sun crested the top of the Harder Hall.  Skidmore Unofficial was at the much more reasonably scheduled 1pm address where Glotzbach sounded off on our present location in the economy, rich alumni, and even dropped some hints on the future Scribner Village—which we can openly say is on death row.

El Presidente kicked things off with some bad news: this year’s budget looks as if it will be about one million bucks short. Glotzbach encouraged the heads of departments in attendance to look for ways to scrimp and save, but seemed optimistic that the college would not see any serious effects because this shortage. Over-enrollment and tuition fees this semester have given us, as of yet, an untouched surplus that I’m sure will be tapped before the year is over. Glotzbach was eager to explain to those in attendance that this year will not be a problem for Skidmore College. Unfortunately, Glotzbach did not hold this same cautiously optimistic sentiment for next year.

Thanks to a pretty much continuous economic nose dive the endowment continues to shrink, leaving next years budget with a 5-8 million dollar “problem.” Don’t go getting your fruit-of-the-looms into a bunch yet, while it may seem like a lot of Keystones that deficit only represents about 4-6% of our actual budget. This “problem,” as Glotzbach fastidiously referred to it, means that while staff should not expect any negative changes in their insurance policies, it appears that yearly bonuses and salary raises, among other things, will shrink.

Click to continue »

The Economy and Skidmore: Star-Crossed Lovers

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Last time we talked to Glotzbach about the economy things were still unstable—daily market fluctuations had kept the college from making any serious plans and things were still unsure. Since then, according to an email in last weeks Student Announcement Digest, our cheerful leader has met with the Board of Trustees, the full Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC), and the IPPC Subcommittee on Budget and Finance to talk about the institutions circumstances and future plans to cut funding for many departments. This Tuesday, Glotzbach will give two presentations on our situation, which he describes as “a considerable challenge, particularly for next year.” If that foreboding language doesn’t send tingles down your tuition-paying spine, I don’t know what will. Come hear the man speak Tuesday (11/11) in Davis first at the ungodly hour of 8:30am, and then again for us sane people at 1pm. Each talk should last about an hour.

Crisis Forum: The Mysteries of the Meltdown

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

Albany’s most popular business news daily, the fascinating “Business Review,” reports that Skidmore will be hosting a forum on the recent economic tailspin we have all been so successfully ignoring. And while it may be nice in our beautiful autumn bubble, Wall Street is shitting its pants. The last available figures of our endowment show it shrinking 10-20%. So yeah…take the next few days to indulge because once this news breaks we’re all going to have to make some tragic sacrifices–no humus from the Spa and maybe even no more dinners at Max London’s

The forum, moderated by Skidmore professor Pushkala Prasad, will feature Adirondack Trust CEO Charles Wait, the Chief Investment Officer of Martello Investment Management, and Skidmore professors, Paul Calhoun and Roy Rotheim. Whether you’ll be attending to scare yourself into frugality, or looking for some economics extra credit, show up at JKB (still without geothermal heating) on October 28th at 5:30 for whats sure to be a wonderful time.

Glotztalks (About The Economy)

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

It seems as if this economic downturn is affecting everyone. Many of you are aware of the problems faced by those looking to retire shortly, take out loans for a car, and pay for school, but you should also be aware that Skidmore as an institution (and many other colleges) is facing similar challenges.

This afternoon, at 1pm, President Glotzbach addressed a packed Davis Auditorium on the economy and Skidmore’s position in the precarious markets. The audience was comprised of the intellectual elderly, a few us Skidmore Unofficial reps, and about everyone in Starbuck who’s ever told you that you can’t drop physics, or that you hipsters can’t wear your raybans in your ID photos.

Glotzbach offered us some optimism–chicken finger Friday shall continue to shine as a bright light at the end of the week. Unfortunately, he emphasized how we will all have to reevaluate our budget for the upcoming year in light of more stringent budget regulation. He did not, however, provide us with a tentavive plan simply because there isn’t one yet–the daily fluctiations of the market are too unstable. Click to continue »