By Jon Alba

The Quinnipiac University Faculty Senate motioned to censure President John Lahey in an emergency meeting last Friday, according to a source in the senate. The meeting was held as school officials confirmed 16 professors would be losing their jobs for the 2014-2015 school year.

The motion to censure was agreed upon by the senate, expressing its disappointment in the administration’s decision. A censure is an official position of disapproval taken by a large body, and in this case, is condemning the president’s choice to let go of the professors.

The New Haven Register reported on Friday the cuts were a result of low student enrollment and a $6 million shortfall in anticipated income. The report also noted it had been expected 20 full-time staff would be laid off. In a statement provided by the university, Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushnell confirmed the low enrollment.

“The university is adding faculty in areas of growth and reducing the number of faculty in areas that have had declining enrollments in recent years,” Bushnell said. “As a result, 12 new faculty members will join the university this fall, and 16 professors currently on the faculty have been notified they will not be reappointed next year.”

However, the high-ranking senate source told Q30 News the 12 new positions do not correlate with the decision to let others go.

“The new jobs were already a part of the approved new budget,” the source said. “They are mutually exclusive.”

They also noted while it had been suggested just the School of Communications and College of Arts and Sciences would be impacted by the cuts, the School of Business would be as well.

Quinnipiac opened its Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine in North Haven in Fall 2013 at the cost of $100 million. The Courant noted the school was expected to reach a total of about 70 full-time staff members by 2016. A brand new School of Law facility will be added to the campus as well next semester.

Some of the jobs cut were of those who had not even started work. A university adjunct speaking on the condition of anonymity noted the school had recently offered a brand new position they themselves had applied for, but then found out Quinnipiac suddenly rescinded it.

“There are other positions being affected as well,” the adjunct said.”They say ‘we’re letting go of 20 but we’re adding 12,’ but wait a minute, there’s also other full-time positions that they’ve just stopped the search.”

The adjunct also said one of their courses was recently canceled due to low enrollment, and they are unaware of their own current employment standing with the university because of such.

Other members of the university faculty are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the decision to censure the president. Additional steps are expected to be taken, and one source warned the process could expand well into the next school year.

President Lahey spoke to Q30 News in November, where he talked about proposed redevelopment of the campuses alongside his plans to stay on as president for several more years. The complete interview can be found below.

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