According to the article in the Addison Independent published on Monday, July 16, the intentions by the college are to shrink its annual operating deficit by $8 million by cutting a meaningful number of its staff through an “elective,” incentive-based separation plan which comes to a rapid closure by spring of 2019.
Naturally an outstanding educational institution such as Middlebury College, governed by its clever and wise administrators, understands how difficult it is to strike a balance between educating its student body while remaining attractive to potential new students with its bottom line and fiscal responsibilities while not failing to miss an opportunity to capitalize on further prosperity.
To the most gifted of scholars this is a difficult equation, as outlined in last week’s paper, which potentially and quickly leads many staff to involuntary layoffs (otherwise known as terminations) by the end of the academic year. But why so fast — almost knee-jerk like? Moreover, buyouts for faculty have yet to launch, therefore introducing frustration, haste and speculation into this process to reach an abrupt closure in 2019. As it is, this is a C-minus outline to a complex and time-consuming exercise.
Ben F. MacIntosh
Middlebury