Alfred University has laid off 11 employees as part of a workforce reduction at the private Allegany County institution.
The university said the affected positions are spread campuswide, across several departments and programs.
“These decisions were extremely difficult and involved valued members of our Alfred University community,” the university said in a June 3 statement provided to The Evening Tribune.
The statement said the university continues to navigate “operational and financial pressures” facing the field of higher education, including enrollment realities and rising costs.
“As part of our responsibility to ensure the long-term strength and sustainability of Alfred University, we must continue aligning our expenses with revenues while maintaining focus on our academic mission and strategic priorities,” AU said.
The university said affected employees were informed directly and privately.
According to the statement, AU is providing the former employees with support and resources, including extended access to the Employee Assistance Program, job placement assistance, and opportunities to apply for open positions for which they feel qualified.
“We are committed to handling this process with dignity, respect, and compassion,” the university said. “Out of respect for employee privacy and confidentiality, our university will not discuss individual personnel matters.”
The university said its focus remains on supporting its students, faculty, and staff while ensuring Alfred University is positioned for “long-term success.”
Alfred University has approximately 600 employees.
AU partners with Sodexo for campus dining services
Staffing at AU was also impacted by a recently announced partnership with Sodexo Campus, a leading provider in high-quality dining and facilities management solutions.
Alfred University’s contract for dining services with AVI Foodsystems, Inc. expired May 31, impacting 45 employees with the Ohio-based, independently owned and operated food and hospitality service company.
The university said all 45 affected AVI workers were provided the opportunity to interview for new jobs with Sodexo. To date, Sodexo has hired 89% of the AVI workers, the university said, with the remaining AVI employees either finding other employment or electing not to apply to Sodexo.
Alfred University received a total of eight proposals from prospective dining partners, all of which were reviewed by a committee representing students, faculty, and staff led by Melissa Badeau, director of Procurement Services. Sodexo was selected from a group of five finalists.
The collaboration, which became effective June 1, will enhance the campus dining experience through innovative services and culinary excellence, the university said.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Alfred University cuts jobs in campuswide workforce reduction move
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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By Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune | USA TODAY Network
