LA PLUME, Pa. — Keystone College is cutting jobs and eliminating some academic programs to fight financial problems at the school in Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.
The cuts announced Tuesday impact 29 faculty and staff positions, including a few summer furloughs, along with the elimination of positions that were currently vacant.
Academic programs in which Keystone will no longer enroll new students include chemistry, forensic biology, and child and family studies (teaching). The college will continue to teach out those programs to completion for currently enrolled students.
Realignments within the academic programs include offering pre-professional concentrations under the health sciences program and incorporating environmental biology and environmental studies into the college’s environmental sciences program.
The release notes that those academic majors historically had lower enrollments.
"These decisions were not taken lightly and made with the goal of placing Keystone in the best possible position for future success," said Keystone President John Pullo.
Keystone officials believe that coupled with other restructuring measures in services costs currently in progress, the estimated savings to the college’s annual budget is expected to be $3.5 million.
The restructuring comes after the college's accreditation organization—the Middle States Commission on Higher Education—said there were concerns over Keystone's financial future.
Late last month, Keystone signed a letter of intent with an unnamed strategic partner to secure the school's future.
"As Keystone prepares to successfully navigate a path forward with our strategic partner, we needed to better align our expenses with our anticipated revenues while being honest with ourselves with respect to the academic programs in which we can excel," Pullo said.
Keystone is not the only college facing an uncertain future. Clarks Summit University temporarily furloughed staff and faculty members in early June, noting financial difficulties.
Penn State University is restructuring the leadership of its Commonwealth Campuses after a voluntary buy-out program for workers.
Keystone College's campus spans La Plume in Lackawanna County and Factoryville in Wyoming County.
