Well.
Where to begin, where to begin? Five years ago (it doesn't seem that long ago), when Morris Beverage became president of Lakeland, he started his tenure by having seminars on the book, Who Moved My Cheese.
I should have figured out from that that he was planning on doing a far bit of cheese moving. And so he has. The handwriting has been on the wall for quite a while that the Women's Center was not a highly valued, or even understood, part of the college. It was started as a pet project under the previous president, so was fair game.
Then came budget cuts from the state. And reduced marketing budgets. And flat enrollments due to many factors, like reduction in Pell funding from the federal government, on-line enrollment, etc. Cheese moving all over the place! The Women's Center was shifted from one department to another, each not quite knowing what to do with us or even what we did best.
So where am I going with all this? Well, today I found out that my job has been reduced. It is now a 10-month position, rather than all year. I can still keep my benefits (Thank God!), but won't be working so many hours. Yes, this will affect my pay, but, fortunately, Daddy had a job interview this very afternoon, and it looks like they will offer and he will accept. So, it could all work out rather well. I can take my time off whenever I want so if anyone comes to visit me, I don't have to use vacation time to be with you. I probably won't take 2 months at one whack, but spread it out over the year.
Comments
Hmm, I'm trying really hard to think of a reason this doesn't work out really well. . . still trying. . .oh, right, they'll still want you to do everything you did before, just in less time with less pay, eh? I'm glad you can keep your benefits. It's a weird cut though.
Posted by: Mara | May 2, 2006 1:48 AM
I don't know, it seems like a classic move to later justify phasing out the whole position. If maman continues to perform at her previous level, she was obviously just wasting time. On the other hand, if the women's center is disabled by this recent development, then they have outlived their usefulness (obviously) and can be further reduced or eliminated altogether. Ultimately, it could be a ploy for politically justifying "moving lots of cheese," not just that of the women's center.
Posted by: Mendon | May 2, 2006 7:52 AM
Your both right, but it really isn't personal, not even to the Women's Center. It's all about the bottom line. I think the Women's Center will be phased out, or at least de-toothed. I figure I have at least one more year. And I am so grateful for keeping my benefits. That could be a major cost saver to cut those, yet they didn't.
Posted by: Ma | May 2, 2006 9:22 AM
PHEW ! ! ! !
Posted by: papa | May 2, 2006 6:11 PM