Savannah State cuts staff, freezes open positions, forecasts additional reductions to come

Will Peebles, Savannah Morning News
·2 min read
Savannah State University graduates celebrate after receiving their diplomas during a past commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Savannah State University graduates celebrate after receiving their diplomas during a past commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Savannah State University laid off 23 employees Friday, a decision meant to address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment in the oldest public historically Black college in the state, according to a press release by the university.

The university has additionally frozen currently vacant positions. SSU will be "taking additional measures to reduce expenditures as it seeks to maximize the mission of the institution and the needs of students," the release read.

More: Savannah State President Kimberly Ballard-Washington has resigned. What we know.

Since 2019, enrollment at Savannah State University is down 19.7%, on par with the recent trend of smaller USG institutions seeing a decline in enrollment while larger universities' enrollment increases.

Currently, there are 2,606 students enrolled at SSU, down from 2,759 at the same time in 2022, a 5.5% drop in total enrollment. Savannah State's enrollment stood at more than 4,000 full-time students as recently as 2016.

Kimberly Ballard-Washington, Savannah State University president
Kimberly Ballard-Washington, Savannah State University president

With the state’s funding formula based on enrollment, officials say SSU is also preparing for additional reductions for the next two budget cycles in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025.

From fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2023, the university’s state appropriation allocation fell by $5.4 million, according to data from a Savannah State official. Over the same period, tuition revenue decreased by more than $5 million as enrollment dipped.

Beyond the faculty and staff cuts, Savannah State will optimize the operating costs of some buildings on campus that are underutilized with fewer students on campus. Last week, an SSU spokesperson said a committee is conducting a facility review.

Hill Hall, built in 1901, is the oldest building on the Savannah State University campus.
Hill Hall, built in 1901, is the oldest building on the Savannah State University campus.

More: Faced with slashing $11 million, Savannah State may cut English, Africana Studies programs

More: Georgia's university system responds to $66 million budget cut from General Assembly

More: 'A masterclass on narcissism': Savannah State faculty seek to oust liberal arts college dean

The layoffs come at the end of a tumultuous week for SSU. On Monday, a University System of Georgia team began their investigation of a faculty no-confidence vote against Dean David Marshall of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Then on Thursday SSU President Kimberly Ballard-Washington announced her resignation after four years leading the university.

Ballard called Friday's personnel cuts "one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make as we value all employees."

“Savannah State University is its people. Whenever we must make reductions, it deeply impacts our campus and community,” Ballard-Washington said in a prepared statement.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah State University layoffs: 23 staffers lose jobs in reduction