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Hiram College laid off 13 people this summer as part of efforts to save more than $2.5 million in its budget for this academic year.
The small college in northeastern Ohio moved to make cuts after determining this year’s incoming class and expected tuition revenue would come in below earlier projections. A spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed the layoffs, which took place July 22. The college’s employee count now includes 127 staff members and 83 faculty members.
Hiram also instituted operational budget cuts and a voluntary retirement program. In addition, the college canceled some institutional memberships and hired a new third-party company for facilities, grounds and janitorial duties. The college’s budget stands at $30 million.
Hiram, which typically enrolls more than 1,100 students, did not share exactly which positions were cut. The spokeswoman only said that 12 staff members and one non-tenure-track faculty instructor were laid off. She described the number of employees taking early retirement as “more than a handful.”
Officials indicated they are trying to position the college for the future with new efforts including an integrative exercise science major and a men’s volleyball program. They also pointed to record fund-raising last year. The college raised $9.3 million in gifts, up from a record of $8.1 million set in 2001.
Hiram recently dropped its SAT or ACT requirement for admissions for prospective students posting high school grade point averages of at least 2.8 in college preparatory classes.
