UT Chancellor: Reduction in force comments 'unfortunate'
University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa responded directly to an article about university job layoffs in Tuesday's edition of The Brownsville Herald by sending out a statement calling the story "unfortunate," but he refrained from stating it was inaccurate.
The news of the significant layoffs that Cigarroa called "a possible reduction in force," was confirmed by University of Texas at Brownsville Provost Alan Artibise on Monday though the UTB administrator did not cite exact figures. Officials also announced last week that UTB-TSC enrollment decreased when comparing spring 2012 figures to the same time last year.
Artibise said the "right-sizing" process is connected to the end of UTB's partnership with Texas Southmost College, which will leave the university with a significantly reduced budget because of an anticipated decrease in enrollment as the schools split.
“The comments in today’s Brownsville Herald concerning a possible reduction in force at The University of Texas at Brownsville are premature and very unfortunate,” Cigarroa said in the Tuesday afternoon statement. “The UTB-TSC transition teams have yet to formally discuss details concerning any possible reduction in force at the institutions. The university and surrounding community should know the UT System remains firmly committed to a smooth transition process that keeps the best interests in mind of the entire UTB community.”
According to a press release issued last week, enrollment at UTB-TSC decreased about 6 percent for spring 2012.
Enrollment was 12,985 students — or 851 students less than the previous spring semester, a press release said. The final number of students who attend UTB or TSC is crucial as the two schools end their partnership because enrollment is deeply connected to state funding, finances, staffing and facilities.
“We are working as carefully as we can to see there will be a seat for every student who wants to attend the college or the university once we have separated,” UTB transition team official Michael Putegnat said in the release.
Total UTB-TSC credit hours also declined similarly, the release said.
On Monday, after an informal request failed, The Brownsville Herald filed an open records request for the results of the “virtual separation” enrollment process that took place as students registered for the spring 2012 semester and any additional analysis of the results.
During the registration process students were asked to choose a home institution. In addition to using the effort to sort out potential enrollment numbers, it was also an important part of helping students understand UTB will have admissions standards for the first time beginning fall 2012.
Though the UTB-TSC partnership is still intact, the open admissions it brought will be gone as UTB aims to establish itself as a four-year university more closely resembling the University of Texas at Pan American and other peer institutions.
Artibise said the critical numbers are enrollment figures for fall 2013, as this is when it is anticipated UTB and TSC will be fully separate entities. The release said that at that time enrollment would be reported separately to “obtain more accurate enrollment estimates in preparation for the first post-partnership year.”
Enrollment for spring 2012 was reported for the singular UTB-TSC entity as done in the past, the press release said.
“UTB and TSC administrators and statisticians are currently continuing to study the spring 2012 enrollment results in efforts to form a better idea of what enrollment will be for each separate entity in 2013,” the release said. “Both administrations must come to definite enrollment estimates for planning their future finances.”
On Monday, Putegnat — who the press release called executive director of South Texas academic programs for the University of Texas System and special assistant to the provost for transition — said he could no longer publicly comment about transition operations. He directed questions to UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn.
Officials noted in the press release that until separation occurs, students will attend UTB-TSC as before and the partnership will continue to operate.
Reasons enrollment may have decreased include a new state law requiring a vaccination against meningococcal disease for college students and a “slight improvement” in the Texas economy that may have encouraged potential students to enter the workforce, according to the release. Due to a shortage of the vaccine prior to the registration deadline, some college-bound students could not get the necessary inoculation, the release said.
“Statewide, universities and colleges are reporting that their enrollments have dipped,” the release said. “While UTB-TSC is in a transition from the UTB-TSC partnership to two autonomous entities, it is not likely that this would have an effect upon enrollment this early in the process.”
