Dear Students,
I hope this note finds you and your family managing to stay healthy and safe through this most extraordinary time. I’m writing to all members of the John Carroll community to update you on the past three months and to share important information about the University.
I can’t express enough my admiration and gratitude for the incredible efforts of our entire John Carroll community to successfully complete the spring semester. On March 10, we made the significant decision to move to virtual learning. Our accomplished faculty worked hard to transition to remote teaching, our exceptional students adapted to remote learning, and our dedicated employees successfully shifted to remote working from home. At no other time has the care and compassion that so characterizes our Jesuit tradition been on such full display, as all members of the John Carroll community worked together on our academic mission and the student experience.
This is an unprecedented time in our country, in higher education, and on our campus. Like so many institutions, businesses, and even our families, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on John Carroll University’s budget and operations.
Last week, we announced our plan to employ the Flexible Hybrid (HyFlex) Learning model during the fall semester. In the midst of preparing to welcome students back to campus with this hybrid approach, a cross-functional team of University leaders, faculty and staff has also been assessing the current state of John Carroll. Together, we are mapping out a future course for the next academic year and beyond. Our conclusion? We must prepare today for John Carroll’s future.
In addition to the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, John Carroll, like all universities, was already facing a shrinking pool of college-age students. All universities have to adjust; John Carroll is no exception. Most importantly, we must prepare to be a smaller and, ultimately, even stronger institution. The actions we are taking are in direct response to this challenge.
We are taking steps to foster greater innovation as a University. Our strategic planning process is guiding our evolution to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality education possible to our current and future students, and adapt to changes in student needs. The impact of COVID-19 has accelerated our preparation for the future.
To address the impact of the pandemic on our financials and operations, keep John Carroll financially strong, and prepare the University for a changed, post-COVID world, the University must take steps to rightsize its cost structure and invest in its future while continuing to focus on the academic mission and excellence and outstanding service to our students. We must undertake meaningful changes to address near-term economic pressures brought by the pandemic, while placing JCU on a solid economic footing for the future. This will provide a strong foundation on which to build our strategic planning and position us for investments in new programs and capabilities for the future.
The University is taking steps to ensure its strong financial future include $5 million in temporary savings for the coming year, $15 million in long-term reductions to our cost structure, and a measured one-time use of endowment funds for expenses related to the restructuring. These costs will be shared across our community in several ways, including careful restrictions on expenses, temporary salary reductions for faculty and staff, and voluntary separation and retirement programs for employees.
One thing remains clear: we will not compromise the John Carroll University experience for our students. Fulfilling our Jesuit mission and delivering the John Carroll outstanding education and experience that our students expect remains our focus.
I want you to know that John Carroll is determined to move forward with these goals in mind: protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our community, caring for our people with compassion, and keeping a clear focus on the academic mission and student success as our highest priorities.
Together, we will get through this stronger and even better positioned for the future.
Yours,
Michael D. Johnson, Ph.D. President, John Carroll University