On Thursday, Oct. 31, DU announced to all College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) faculty that it would drastically change how faculty working at the school receive support. These changes will reduce the support CAHSS faculty receive and leave three staff members unemployed and 18 others scrambling to get rehired by DU.
As of last week, each of the 21 CAHSS-housed departments had a specialized departmental assistant to handle day-to-day operations. On Tuesday, DU notified three of these assistants that they were being laid off. They were told their last day with the university will be Nov. 15.
The 18 remaining departmental assistants are also affected. Their positions will also be terminated effective Nov. 15. However, DU is encouraging them to reapply for a position in its new “college-wide support services team,” which will effectively be their current job with a new name.
This new college-wide team will consist of 15 departmental assistants supporting each of the 21 departments within CAHSS. The “new” positions will have job descriptions mirroring what the current departmental assistants do, yet each will have to apply and interview to continue working for DU.
These new positions include titles of Business Coordinator, Business Officer, Enrollment Services Coordinator, Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator and Marketing & Communications Coordinator. All job openings and their descriptions are listed on the DU Jobs website.
DU has said it will provide “support” in the hiring process for the current departmental assistants, including paid time off for interviews.
Even if the remaining 18 departmental assistants fill each of the new 15 positions, three will remain unemployed. The assistants were told there is no guarantee of getting rehired and the jobs are also open to outside hires.
The new positions will come with a slight salary increase, although the current assistants report that their current wages, even with the increase, remain far below what is needed to meet Denver’s cost of living.
Assistants are worried that the new positions will increase the workload of what is already a difficult position. In addition to supporting professors, departmental assistants also help students with registration, career opportunities and overall communication from the department to the students.
Professors at CAHSS who are concerned about their colleagues’ livelihoods will also have to manage with less support.
Current departmental assistants were told there would be no training for the new positions. Rachel Walsh, interim dean of CAHSS, told them in a staff meeting that they would be expected to “learn as they go.”
In an email to CAHSS staff, Walsh described the “unprecedented dynamics facing higher education,” which she says have created budget deficits and driven DU to find a “new path forward” for CAHSS. She cited problems like the “enrollment cliff” caused by the birthrate drop after the 2008 recession, a slow FAFSA rollout and decreased confidence in higher education.
But, the budgetary problems for CAHSS aren’t isolated. In an email sent to members of the Clarion, the Josef Korbel School of International Studies had to let go of two administrative staff members, whose last day with the faculty will be December 31.
The Clarion asked the Chancellor’s Office for comment on the CAHSS layoffs on Friday.
“This week, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner discussed during a budget town hall meeting that the University will undergo a relatively small number of layoffs. The notifications regarding these layoffs have been made this week through the affected divisions and academic units. Human Resources and Inclusive Community will work with individuals whose positions are eliminated to apply for other vacancies within the University.
The University and leadership within academic units have been transparent with faculty and staff that trends across higher education are resulting in lower enrollment and revenue for many institutions. Chancellor Haefner shared in the town hall that he does not anticipate additional layoffs during the 2024-25 budget cycle.”
DU is one of many colleges across the country dealing with budget deficits due to these issues. In June, Columbia College Chicago laid off 70 employees to help reduce its $38 million budget deficit. Other smaller liberal arts colleges are closing their doors.
As the Nov. 15 application deadline approaches, the 18 remaining departmental assistants are scrambling to prepare for interviews and to decide what to do next.
The Clarion will be talking with administration, professors and laid-off staff later this week. Details about how budget cuts will affect more departments, services and benefits across campus are soon to come. As we balance the stress of the final two weeks of the academic quarter, we will continue to do our best to provide the most accurate and up-to-date coverage regarding these developments.
Riley Laub contributed to this report.
