Like other colleges and universities across the nation, Lakeland Community College has been impacted financially by a significant decline in revenues due to COVID-19.

Prior to the pandemic, Lakeland was experiencing a shortfall in tuition revenue due to historically low unemployment for the academic year ending June 30, 2020.

Now, Lakeland is facing additional financial challenges brought on by cuts in state funding and a significant decline in revenues due to COVID-19.

Lakeland will lose $781,000 in state funding between now and June 30, 2020, and anticipates a $3.1 million to $4.1 million cut in state funding for FY 2021. Enrollment projections for summer and fall semester are uncertain, as current and prospective students are dealing with financial, family, health and technology challenges.

As a result of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the college during the past few months and into the future, Lakeland has announced reductions in force effective May 15. The affected full and part-time non-instructional personnel are from a wide range of college departments and have served in a variety of roles. Actions taken include the:

• Permanent layoffs of 37 employees
• Furloughs of 51 employees
• Permanent reduction in hours for 25 employees

Current cost-savings measures that will continue include:

• A hiring freeze with rare exceptions for continuity of operations or revenue generation
• Reductions in non-essential operating costs
• Suspension of college-sponsored travel

These actions are being taken now to assure the continued financial strength of our institution while providing a high-quality educational experience for our students.

"These are unprecedented times, which unfortunately require difficult decisions to ensure we continue to meet our mission of helping area students reach their educational goals," said Lakeland President Morris W. Beverage, Jr. "Our students demonstrate their resilience every day, and so will Lakeland overcome these challenges."

By: Jessica Novak