John GrindelPresident’s MessageMarch 25, 2003

Last week an e-mail went out to a number of people on campus that spoke about a strong rumor that the College will suffer layoffs in November of this year after the Board of Trustees elections. This same e-mail also spoke about CSEA being force-fed a contract that would cut our benefits. I want to assure everyone on campus that there is no truth to either of these assertions.

With regard to the issue of layoffs, I have communicated on numerous occasions that our goal is to retain all permanent full-time positions to the extent possible with available resources. The last thing we want to do is to layoff people and we will do all that we can to avoid layoffs.

With regard to being force-fed a contract that would cut out benefits, I can assure you that we have no intention of cutting out benefits. Will we need to discuss a cap on health benefits? Yes, we will need to have such a discussion. But no one is even considering cutting out benefits.

I am deeply distressed to see such rumors being spread across the campus. I would hope that if questions and concerns do arise as we work through the present budget crisis that pople will feel free to come and ask me what is going on. I will always be straight foward with you and share with you what I know.

What we do not need on the campus at this time is the spreading of unfounded rumors. All of us are stressed enough by both the budget situation and the war in Iraq. We need, above all, to suport one another in these difficult times. We will be able to weather the present storm only if we stay united and work together in trust.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Tom Chavez, President of CSEA Chapter 161, and other members of the CSEA leadership for their open and trusting communication with me. We have spoken with one another about the issues addressed above and I am aware of the memo that Mr. Chavez sent to the classified employees this morning. We are both committed to open communication with one another and to working through the difficult issues that face us as a college in these challenging times.