EGCC begins process of dissolution absent sufficient funding
It looks like it could be the end for the Eastern Gateway Community College - unless they find funding soon.
The EGCC Board of Trustees have begun the process to dissolve by June 30 if the school doesn't get sufficient funding by May 31.
It was unanimously approved and went into effect March 20.
What this means for the future of the college or what dissolving such a large organization would look like is unclear at this time.
EGCC Faculty Union President Jim Corrin tells 21 News that the news did not come as a surprise.
"I think when they made the announcement when we were going to pause enrollment, it was pretty much a given we were going to dissolve at that time," Jim Corrin. "A pause is just another word for dissolve."
Corrin tells 21 News that around 140 union jobs between faculty and staff will be lost if the college does dissolve.
21 News has reached out to the board of trustees for comment but has not heard back.
This is the latest in a series of setbacks faced by the community college in recent months.
Most recently, the college announced it would not have a fall semester following the spring semester due to ongoing financial issues.
The decision to suspend its fall semester was related to a pause of federal funding going to the school.
Pausing enrollment was meant to give the board more time to explore financial options, though at this point, it's unclear if any avenues have been found.
YSU and several other surrounding colleges have offered help bringing students to their campuses.
At the beginning of the year, the board cut staff positions by 28 due to a dramatic fall in student enrollment.
In July of 2022, the DOE ordered EGCC to stop dispersing Federal Pell Grant money to any new students enrolling in the Free College Benefit Program until it was redesigned.
The DOE determined EGCC was waiving tuition and fees for students in excess of Title IV funds. For students not receiving Title IV funds, the entire tuition and fees were waived. They say that resulted in Title IV students being charged for their education and non-Title IV students not being charged, which violates Title IV requirements.
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