Faculty more than reluctant to let go

Steve Cormier
Critic Staff

Cut of library employee galvanizes LSC faculty to demand address of the termination.

Hard financial times at Lyndon State College have become personal with the administration’s decision to cut the Director of Library Instructional Technology position.

Vicki Litzinger, an employee of the college since 2001, will be let go later this semester. The termination of her position is a result of the administration’s response to the budget deficit facing LSC this fall.

Stating in an e-mail that the situation was “very problematic,” Litzinger declined to be interviewed for this article.

A common face in the library, Litzinger is the person behind integrating class information with Blackboard to help both faculty and students. Her removal from LSC is weighing on the minds and in the actions of those who know her.

“It is always a difficult thing to deal with when a colleague is let go,” said David Johnston, Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Federation Chapter Chair.

An emergency meeting of the Faculty Assembly, the union representing faculty at LSC, convened Tuesday in the Burke Mountain Room with the only item on the agenda being the layoff.

“The faculty wants to show support for the staff… who keep LSC functioning,” Johnston said.

“When difficult things happen in a community it’s important to continue to communicate to help in knowing how decisions were made,” said Patricia Shine, Professor of Human Services.

A letter asking President Carol Moore to address the layoff at the next Faculty Assembly meeting is being circulated by Shine and is being signed by full and part-time faculty.

“The letter explains why the position is important and why Vicki is good for it,” Johnston said.

Litzinger’s termination has brought into question the way financial matters have been handled here at LSC, especially during the current deficit crises.

“Many people would have liked a more open deliberation process to work out the budget shortfall,” Johnston said.

The decision to eliminate Litzinger’s position occurred following the state government in Montpelier deciding to pull back previously approved appropriations. Cutting the library position reduced the deficit by $34,000. “We do not get a lot of money here as we are tuition driven,” said Bob McCabe, director of student support services and Chapter Chair for VSC-UP, the staff union at LSC.

Along with Litzinger two part-time housing employees will be removed and two 12 month employees will have their positions reduced to 10 months. In addition money is to be cut from the staff development, equipment and library acquisitions budgets.

The Vermont General Assembly will be reconvening in November to focus on budgeting again. McCabe worries about what decisions could be made even though last week President Moore said, “we have not targeted any positions, we will wait and see what happens.”

“I don’t think it is over yet,” McCabe said. One of the few other choices is charging more in terms of tuition and he worries that would drive students further into loan debt.


Photo by Eric Wayne