Tri-C Announces Plans to Address Financial Impact of COVID-19

$25 million shortfall projected for fiscal year 2021

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) today announced plans to offset the financial impact of COVID-19 on its fiscal year 2021 budget.

The College projects a $25 million shortfall over the next year due to the pandemic. This includes decreases in state funding, enrollment and other revenues, as well as approximately $1 million in additional operational expenses resulting from the coronavirus crisis.

In response, the College is taking steps to preserve its long-term financial stability while maintaining its low cost of attendance ― Tri-C has the lowest tuition in the state ― and providing student services that remove barriers and drive student success.

“These are difficult times that call for difficult decisions,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said.  “We are operating in a vastly different environment than we were before the pandemic, and we must adjust to that new reality.”

Cost-saving measures for fiscal year 2021, which begins July 1, include:

• Reductions to the base salaries of the following non-bargaining employees:
  • Tri-C President Alex Johnson – 10%
  • Employees with salaries $200,000 or greater – 7%
  • Employees with salaries $150,000 - $199,999 – 5%
  • Employees with salaries $100,000 - $149,999 – 3%
• Deferring FY21 cost-of-living and performance-based increases for non-bargaining employees
• Offering voluntary separation packages to employees with one year or more of service
• Implementing strategic staff reductions and consolidations to align with current student and operational needs

These actions are in addition to operational efficiency measures already in place, including a hiring freeze; no discretionary spending for College-sponsored travel and business meetings; and delaying campus or facility projects financed through the general operating budget.

Details were shared with employees today during a virtual town hall meeting led by Johnson and David Kuntz, Tri-C’s executive vice president of finance and administration. Information on voluntary separation packages, staff reductions and organizational consolidations will be provided as planning moves forward. 

May 15, 2020

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu