By Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
UNION — Kean University will cut positions through a reorganization plan involving the library and two other offices that provide support services for students.
However, the number of positions that will be cut has not been determined, and a university spokeswoman said it is uncertain when the reorganization plan will be implemented.
James Castiglione, head the Kean Federation of Teachers, the faculty union, said he had heard that the layoffs could range from a few positions up to 50.
[…]The university is moving ahead with the plan despite a plea from Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex), chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, who sent a letter to the trustees asking them to reconsider any layoffs.
“Denying the most needy students access to the very employees who are responsible for every facet of learning and support outside the classroom seems not just unconscionable but contrary to common sense and damaging to Kean’s particular mission,” said Jasey in the letter dated Sept. 14.
Castiglione said the cuts will hurt the students most in need of help.
“At a time when the university is increasing tuition and fees for students 3 percent, the highest increase in the state, and when they are admitting students who need more support services than ever, to be cutting those personnel providing those services would be catastrophic to student retention and graduation rates,” Castiglione said.
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