As part of its ongoing efforts to restructure costs, streamline operations, and strengthen the financial position of the College for the future, Keystone College announced that it has implemented a reduction in workforce, and further organizational restructuring over the past few weeks, and will also close several academic programs in which it has historically had lower enrollments. The restructuring and reduction in workforce impact a total of 29 faculty and staff positions, including a few summer furloughs as well as 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 as well as incorporating environmental biology and environmental studies into the College’s environmental sciences program.
“The current and future challenges that face many higher education institutions seem to be increasing every day. We are now starting to see those spread increasingly from the private colleges and universities to the public ones as well,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo Sr. “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 continued.
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.
“These decisions were not taken lightly and made with the goal of placing Keystone in the best possible position for future success,” Pullo added.
Recognized as one of the best educational values in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Keystone offers undergraduate and graduate degree options in liberal arts and science-based programs as well as in business, education, natural science, environmental science, and sports and recreation management. Located on a beautiful 276-acre campus, 15 minutes from Scranton, Pa. and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Keystone is known for small class sizes and individual attention focused on student success through internships, research, and community involvement.
