Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Declining student enrollment has led to an unprecedented 12 layoffs at the College of Menominee Nation.
Enrollment at the 23-year-old tribal community college in fall 2014 was 588, down from 668 in 2013 and 691 in 2012.
Although other colleges and universities have experienced consistent enrollment declines, “this is the first time in our history it has happened,” CMN President Verna Fowler said.
“I remember walking into a meeting and they were talking about low enrollments,” Fowler said. “What I learned is that there is a historical pattern at colleges. They said you have four years of increasing growth and then four years of declining growth.
“We have only been around 23 years and I was not aware of that pattern. … It is happening around the country.”
Fowler said CMN’s enrollment levels remained stable until 2013, when the count dropped from 691 to 668.
In response to the enrollment decline, CMN laid off 12 employees and changed some job classifications. The changes affected two associate deans, an operations administrator, campus planner, maintenance and housekeeping staff, and a handful of administrative assistants.
CMN declined to disclose names of people who lost their jobs. They were notified in February.
“It is a very difficult,” Fowler said. “These are some of my most loyal employees. They have made this college a wonderful success. My employees go beyond the call to help this college.
“I wouldn’t have a problem hiring any of them back. People don’t understand and realize how heart-wrenching the decision is to do that to people.”
According to data released by CMN, 31 of 61 faculty members in 2013 were full-time equivalents, but the numbers fluctuate annually.
“Our employee numbers change each year,” Fowler said. “Sometimes we have to hire more adjuncts to make up for the higher number of students; sometimes I don’t hire as many adjuncts.”
There were also 128 nonteaching employees in 2013.
Increasing tuition — now $2,600 for full-time students — is not a viable option for the college, Fowler said, because of the economic climate of Menominee County, where the unemployment rate is consistently the highest in the state.
“People here can’t afford it,” she said. “That is why we are here.”
Fowler fears higher tuition could push enrollment even lower. “That is self-defeating,” she said.
Fowler noted, despite the cutbacks, CMN has been able to maintain all of its course offerings.
“My ultimate goal is to make sure that we do not lose any services to students,” she said.