YOUNGSTOWN - The union that represents faculty at Youngstown State University says some of its members received “notices of non-reappointment” on Thursday.

According to a news release from YSU-OEA spokesperson Mark Vopat, the notices were delivered on Veteran’s Day when the University was closed, and contrary to assertions made by Provost Brien Smith and Vice President of Finance and Business Operations Neal McNally that layoffs will be in ‘sunsetted’ programs with “as few as zero students”.

Vopat states that some tenure-track faculty in higher-ranked programs received notice of non-reappointment Thursday.

The union says some who got the letters are in programs listed as “Grow” and “Sustain” through the university’s Curricular Efficiency process.

“We are in utter shock that YSU would cut faculty in programs that are healthy and that have solid enrollment,” Susan Clutter, YSU OEA president, said.

The Union and the Administration signed a memorandum of understanding to extend the notification date for full-time faculty members discontinued for reasons of retrenchment from November 15 to November 22, giving the Joint Retrenchment Committee a one-week extension of the deadline so they had time to write a report objecting to program sunsets, according to Clutter.

“The ink wasn’t even dry on that MOU before people started getting their notices, and on a day the university was closed for business, no less,” Clutter added.

YSU OEA scheduled has scheduled an emergency membership meeting Friday afternoon for members who have questions.

“To be quite frank, many of these ‘retrenchments’ seem targeted and retaliatory,” Clutter said, noting that several faculty members who had received dismissal notices were key leaders in YSU OEA’s contract negotiations and strike actions in 2020.

“That faculty in programs administration marked as ‘growing’ or ‘sustainable’ are receiving these notices as well makes no sense and calls into question everything faculty were told by administration about their ‘curricular efficiency’ audit process,” said Clutter.

“They are eliminating tenure-track faculty in healthy programs while they’re expanding administration, giving administrators raises and increasing funding to athletics - clearly, YSU’s spending priorities need to be reassessed,” Clutter said.

But the matter may be more a matter of semantics. 

When reached on Thursday by 21 News, Provost Brien Smith denied that any letters of retrenchment had been sent out yet. 

On Friday, both Smith and university spokesperson Ron Cole stood by that denial, saying that there is a difference in the contract language between "letters of retrenchment" and "notices of non-reappointment." Both Smith and Cole acknowledged that some notices of non-reappointmentwere sent out on Thursday, but so far have not elaborated on how many. They say no letters of retrenchment have been sent at this point. 

Smith said eight faculty members will be notified on Friday of their non-reappointment. 

Smith said none of this changes the total number of faculty who will lose their jobs. The unversity has maintained that number would be fewer than 20. 

When asked whether the non-reappointments could bring that number higher, Smith was unequivocal in his response. 

"NO! Total is less than 20. So it's about 16 TOTAL," Smith told 21 News Friday. 

Eight more notices are going out to faculty members on Friday. 

When asked 

Smith explains that the difference between the two come down to whether a faculty member has tenure. 

"Reappointment does not apply to tenured faculty because tenure is an indefinite appointment. Tenured faculty can be retrenched. Other "term" contracts are subject to reappointment," Smith said via text. 

The YSU administration has released a statement Friday afternoon responding to the news release sent out by Vopat. The statement reads as follows:

"As per discussions across campus and the community, including detailed briefings with local news media, Youngstown State University has started notifications regarding downsizing a small number of university faculty."

"The unfortunate need to downsize is the result of an 18-month comprehensive review of the university's more than 140 academic programs that revealed several programs have zero or few students; as a result, those programs have been set for 'sunset' or elimination. As enrollments has declined, the university must adjust program offerings and ensure that the programs the university offers and that our faculty teach are those that attract enrollment, help students and allow the university to survive and thrive."

"As for the faculty union's latest news release, non-renewal and retrenchment notifications are going out as per the contract and memorandum of understanding that allows additional time to appeal the actions. The union leadership's accusation that the actions are targeted and retaliatory is baseless."

"Also, most of the reduction in force is, in fact, for faculty programs designated as 'sunset.' Others, as per the university's comprehensive review are necessary to help programs in other designated categories reach their full potential."

"In addition, the university is, in fact, financially sound and not in dire straits thanks to deliberate budget actions over the past several years. With the ever-evolving higher education landscape, it is imperative, however, that we increase efficiencies for the university's long-term academic vitality and financial sustainability. These difficult actions are part of the university administration."

"We remain hopeful that the process now underway, while painful and regrettable, can be conducted in a professional, collegiate manner. It is only together that we can most effectively face our challenges and ensure a vibrant future for YSU."