Layoff Notices Sent To Westminster Choir College Faculty

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — It appears as though the professors at Westminster Choir College may soon be out of work. In August, the Rider University Board of Trustees announced that an international partner has proposed to acquire Westminster Choir College and maintain the campus in Princeton. The partner has not been named and details of the sale have yet to be released.

On Tuesday, layoff notices were sent to Westminster Choir College faculty members via email from Rider University, Rider University confirmed. However, the letter doesn't necessarily mean staff are fired or laid off.

"Rather, our community should understand that the notice was provided as part of a larger process intended to secure the future of WCC," Rider University President Greg Dell'Omo said in a letter to faculty, staff and students that it also provided to Patch.

The partner was selected from about 280 entities through the university's adviser, PwC Corporate Finance LLC. Since the initial announcement of the sale, there have been negotiations as Rider attempts to do its due diligence.

"However, in the event a transaction is not consummated, it may be necessary to transition to closure and provide an opportunity for teach-out of current WCC students," Dell'Omo said. "This process would decrease the size of the student body and thus create the need to concurrently reduce the size of the workforce. We expect to know more in the coming months as the work with the potential partner unfolds."

Thus, the layoff notices were filed in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached with the American Association of University Professors.

The agreement between the union and the university states layoffs can only occur in the case of a financial exigency or the demonstrated financial need to eliminate or curtail programs, according to Planet Princeton.The union told the website there is no financial emergency at Rider, and that it plans to file a grievance.

Last month, an unspecified number of professors held a "teach-in" because they were frustrated about not having a forum to let the students know how they feel about the sale, and they feel it's important for the students to know where their professors stand.

Rider University announced its intention to sell the campus in March. The decision came after the university initially said it was looking to close the campus and consolidate it with the campus in Lawrenceville to help with some of the university's financial problems.

The Coalition to Save Westminster Choir College was formed shortly after university announced its plans for consolidation. It has since filed a lawsuit to prevent the university from selling either the college or the campus.

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