Several faculty given incentive to retire

With Lyndon State College facing what is widely believed to be about a $750,000 deficit next year, the administration is starting to offer retirement incentives for some of the colleges more experienced and higher-paid professors.

"We've put together a package for faculty that the union has approved and we have spoken to faculty," said President Carol Moore. "It's their choice. Maybe some will be interested and others will not. It will certainly help."

According to several of the professors who have been offered the package, they would receive half a year's salary if they retire at the end of the spring 2011 semester. They would have to let the administration know their decision by mid-March.

The offer has been made to seven professors, all 65 or close to 65 years of age. Linda Mitchell, Tim Sturm, Ronald Rossi, John DeLeo and Barry Hertz have all confirmed that they have been offered the package. Hertz said that his entire department (education) has been offered the package. That would mean Ernie Broadwater and Linda Metzke would also receive the offer, however they were both unable to be reached for comment at time of publication.

The seven professors make approximately $630,000 combined.

None of the professors have confirmed that they will accept the package and several said that they would not.

"I'm considering retirement, not now though," said psychology professor Ronald Rossi. "It would be a couple of years out."

Not all of the professors are happy about the package.

"It was one semester of salary then I retire," said mountain recreation professor John DeLeo of the package. "It's not much of an incentive for me to retire."

DeLeo also went on to say he felt as though there was a certain amount of pressure that if he doesn't retire there would be more layoffs for other faculty.

"I won't meet with President Moore," said special education professor Tim Sturm. "I've been here for almost 30 years and if they would like me to retire I need to know the specifics of their offer.

"I think it's fair that I ask for something in writing, I have not received anything and am left to believe that I won't receive anything," said Sturm.

Sturm doesn't believe that this is the best action to take for saving the college money.

"My response in the way to help us out of this crisis is to decrease the administration," he said. "I don't know how old Dr. Moore is, but I think she's older than I am. I wonder has she considered giving herself this package?"

"I think that (the retirement incentive) is a great idea," said education professor Barry Hertz. "As a matter of fact I talked to the president about doing something like this probably a year ago."

Hertz says he thinks the package is a good idea, but not for him at this point in his life.

"It might be good for some people, but retirement is such an individual thing. I feel that it's not a great package and for me I think that at present it's not going to fit my needs," said Hertz.

Several of the professors understand that this is a decision that has to be made in an effort to cut costs.

"Its clear from the budget numbers that costs have to be reduced," said business professor Linda Mitchell.

Mitchell said that Moore opened the meeting by telling her that there will have to be layoffs in order to cut the budget down.

 "I think it's standard practice in an organization if they are planning to layoff people that they do first see if there are some people who are already planning to leave or maybe give them a little incentive to leave so that fewer people have to be laid off," added Mitchell.