Warren Wilson reorganization results in 7 layoffs

Warren Wilson College has laid off seven people as part of a reorganization of several departments at the college.

The college also added three new positions and promoted two people during the reorganization process.

The layoffs occurred within IT, campus printing and facilities, according to Kyle McCurry, interim director of media relations for Warren Wilson. “It’s not an easy thing to do. This is a community of people who care deeply for each other and we don’t make these decisions lightly,” McCurry said.

No teaching positions were affected by the changes, McCurry said. Warren Wilson president Steven L. Solnick notified the campus in a letter earlier this summer about the “potential for some departmental reorganization,” according to McCurry.

“Advancement looked at their division. Admissions looked at their division, and administration and finance looked at their division,” McCurry said. “What resulted was a promotion of two long-term staff members, the creation of three new positions but also the elimination of seven other job titles.”

A letter from Stephanie Owens, vice president for administration and finance, outlined the changes. “Saying goodbye to longtime employees is a decision no administrator wants to make or takes lightly, but change is inevitable and unavoidable at times,” Owens wrote in the letter. “We are grateful to these individuals for their numerous contributions to the continuing legacy of this exceptional institution.”

McCurry said the college was looking for ways to become more efficient. “The college is financially stable. This was a decision made in an effort to create a more effective and efficient operation,” he said.