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HLSCC puts ‘hiring-freeze’ in place to cope with annual $2M shortfall

HLSCC puts ‘hiring-freeze’ in place to cope with annual $2M shortfall. Photo: VINO/File
HLSCC’s President, Dr Janet B. Smith. Photo: VINO/File
HLSCC’s President, Dr Janet B. Smith. Photo: VINO/File
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI - All is not well at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) since, not only has the College seen a shortfall of about $2 million every year for the past four years, there is now in place an ‘unofficial’ freeze in the hiring of persons at the educational institution.

About 70 per cent of the college’s expenses are already utilised for wages and salaries, and other benefits.

According to HLSCC’s President, Dr. Janet B. Smith, “they have been financially challenged for the last several years.”

Cautious

The HLCC’s President was at the time examining the draft allocations for the institution for 2018, with members of the House of Assembly’s, Standing Finance Committee.

She disclosed since 2016 the administration has tried to be as efficient and diligent with their expenditure of public resources, since there has been an annual short-fall of about $2 million, dollars for the last four years.

The President reported that “this year and last year, in an effort to be more efficient they unofficially did a hiring freeze.”

According to Dr Smith, they were “very cautious about what positions they filled and combined positions as necessary.”

She said HLSCC attempted to increase the productivity of staff and observed too that faculty members are now expected to teach ‘15 to 17 per credit hours, per semester’ and that this is enforced by the college’s administration.

The reason they enforced this, she said, is because if they could get the faculty members to teach between 15 and 17 hours, then it would cut down on the number of additional faculty members employed.

Enrollment Down  

Compounding the state of affairs, Committee members heard that that enrollment at HLSCC has been declining over the last several years and the 2017 hurricanes also had an impact on attendance.     

Committee members used the occasion to also enquire about the physical structure at HLSCC and according the college’s President, while the facility did not have nearly as much damage as a lot of other places as a result of the Hurricanes, “some of the damage could be easily attributed to poor maintenance.”

She said the subvention received by HLSCC from the Ministry of Education and Culture, does not provide enough money to efficiently maintain the buildings, and meet other commitments. HLSCC comes under the aegis of Minister for Education, Honourable, Myron V. Walwyn (AL). 

14 Responses to “HLSCC puts ‘hiring-freeze’ in place to cope with annual $2M shortfall ”

  • ABC (21/06/2018, 10:29) Like (16) Dislike (17) Reply
    Another failure of mvw
  • bay (21/06/2018, 10:55) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    Look how they destroyed the college?
  • Coxheath Man (21/06/2018, 11:09) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you think education expensive try cutting education budget.
  • Luvz (21/06/2018, 14:13) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmmm; interesting information. It leaves me to wonder where the government priorities are when it comes to education. We have 700,000 allocated to pump into festival when this money could be used for our schools. Come September when our children go back to school, the school will be asking parents to supply basic things that the school should have. At a crucial time such as now; festival is not a priority in my opinion. Yes, people need a way to relieve stress and have fun but come on mehn. Prioritizing is key! We just can’t afford to be wasting tax payers money anymore.
  • Opinion (21/06/2018, 15:00) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    It would be a good move to examine the entire camp and release any deadweights who may be camping out.
  • Political Observer (PO) (21/06/2018, 15:04) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you think education is expensive trying not having an education. HLSCC is vital to the continued growth and development of the territory. 70% of expenses going towards salary is a major operational problem. If 70% is earmarked for salaries, with the remaining 30%, operations, maintenance, capital investment......etc will be severely underfunded. Imposing a a hard hiring freeze is a necessary action. Nonetheless, more structural adjustments are needed and now. A comprehensive operational analysis study should be commisioned soonest. For starters, the 70% for salaries must be cut, productivity must be enhanced, waste and duplication elimination, revenue streams improved ( tuition waiver should be means tested).............etc. Of course, if you are a full time lecturer at HLSCC , you should teaching a full load. How is the college in Anguilla doing.
    • Interested (22/06/2018, 01:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      It would be great to hear how the college in Anguilla is doing. I wish you had done the research
  • Observer (21/06/2018, 16:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    "faculty members are now expected to teach ‘15 to 17 per credit hours, per semester’ I am a local who taught well over 21 hours at that institution for several years. You mean to tell me some people were doing well below this and getting fat.
  • Gio (22/06/2018, 06:43) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Honestly, I think that BVIskanders should at least pay 50% of tuition. College cannot afford giving out free tuition. They need money to run the school.
  • to be honest (25/06/2018, 22:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Instead of putting a freeze on hiring, they also need to go back to the drawing board and put back the fees for TERTIARY education. This should be implemented for the up-coming school year where everybody pay for their education. This was a bad decision that was made by the hierarchy's and now the institution is suffering as a result of this level of ignorance. Where else in the Caribbean would you find this? It's NOT too LATE to CORRECT it. Let's go!!!
  • Pshhhhh (27/06/2018, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Guess the international students stop enroll that’s sad
  • ting to talk (28/06/2018, 09:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    what about staff cut. There are presently staff at hlscc who arrive on the job site everyday on both sides of the campus but do absolutely nothing. This s****t is Liability to the institution. President, Board Members, DO A CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, your staff productivity level and you will see.


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