While the news was expected for some time, the mood at Monday’s Northwest College Board of Trustees meeting was noticeably gloomy as layoffs were announced.

A total of eight people will be laid off from NWC and another 21 positions will be eliminated through attrition and retirements as part of an effort to produce a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year.

Succumbing to a national trend, the college has been hit by a 20 percent drop in enrollment, as well as decreases in state appropriations and assessed valuations. That resulted in a fiscal year 2020 projected shortfall of nearly $2.4 million.

“Those are the three major pieces to this puzzle, and they’re all in the wrong direction,” said Board President Dustin Spomer. 

This follows a fiscal year 2017 shortfall of $2.3 million and a fiscal year 2018 shortfall of $1.2 million. During those years, the college cut programs, in addition to other operational cuts. They also utilized reserves as much as possible. A total of 19 positions were eliminated over those two years, but almost all were from attrition.

At the time, the board hoped revenues would rebound, eliminating the need for any further cuts. While the budget was flat for fiscal year 2019, the projected budget for the coming fiscal year didn’t prove more fruitful.

With so many cuts to operations in response to previous budget shortfalls, there wasn’t any “wiggle room,” as Trustee Nada Larson put it.

Lisa Watson, vice president of administrative services and finances, said further use of reserves would not be wise, as they would need them for operations.

“We’ve done everything we can do to avoid more severe means to reduce,” President Stefani Hicswa said.

A total of 29 positions are to be cut from the budget, but only eight of those will be reductions in force.

Two positions in the NWC library will be eliminated, as well as a first-year seminar position. Four positions in student services will be cut: one in registration and records, one in student financial aid and two in student health. This means student health services will be closing, and students requiring healthcare services will be referred to providers outside the college.

One position in the business office will also be eliminated.

A total of 18 positions were eliminated through attrition, including 10 positions in instruction and support. Three more positions will be cut through voluntary retirement.

No programs are to be cut from the college, but with the reductions in instructional staff, NWC will reduce the number of course offerings, and some electives will no longer be offered. There will be fewer course sections, and class size will be increased somewhat.

Hicswa said this would be “right sizing” the academic offerings for the student population. She said the core mission of the college would not be compromised.

“Rest assured, we continue to be a strong community college in our offering of transfer curriculum,” Hicswa stated.

Hicswa also pointed out that, despite all the budgetary challenges of the past few years, NWC had the highest graduation rate in the college’s history. Two years ago, it had one of its best accreditation reports, and the college’s retention rate is one of the best in the state.

The board explored other ways to cut personnel expenses before concluding reductions in force were necessary.

Furloughs and reduced hours were not feasible. Speaking after the meeting, Hicswa said such reductions would only make employee compensation less competitive. There were also too few eligible employees to make use of early retirements.

“It was a very, very difficult decision,” Hicswa told the board.

The total preliminary budget for fiscal year 2020 comes to just over $30 million, a 12 percent drop over fiscal year 2019.

Larson said community colleges run lean enough as it is, and so there isn’t much fat to trim, especially after cuts were made in recent years.

“If this trend continues, it’s down to the bone,” said Trustee Bob Newsome. “Hopefully this is the bottom.”

Carolyn Danko expressed disappointment with the lack of legislative support.

Spomer said legislative support would be valuable, but it’s a “process.” If the budget situation is to improve, he said, the college would need to increase enrollment.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, state Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, said the college might want to consider rebranding itself as a means to improve enrollment. He said with competition over the internet, NWC needs to have a name distinct from other schools and districts in Wyoming and Colorado.