Investigation Threatened If Laid-off Faculty Not Reinstated At College Of New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A national association that represents university professors said the College of New Rochelle acted in “flagrant disregard” of standards when it laid off 20 faculty members in June. The Washington, DC-based American Association of University Professors sent a letter June 27 to the college’s interim President Dorothy Escribano citing that those who were laid off did not receive notice, severance, opportunities for hearings or offers of other positions per standards and guidelines regarding termination of professors.

The association said the college could face an investigation if the school doesn’t declare financial exigency or reinstate the faculty members, the Journal News said.

The college said that the layoffs were necessary after all other options were exhausted. Twelve staff members were also laid off. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

A statement on the college’s website said, “We fully recognize that our faculty and staff are at the heart of our teaching and learning experience.”

A financial crisis was discovered in October 2016 which placed the college days away from closing its doors.

President Judith Huntington resigned the weekend of Oct. 15, 2016, and “unmet financial obligation” were uncovered and presented to the trustees.

About $20 million in payroll taxes were not paid for eight quarters, beginning in 2014.

For more details, read the complete Journal News article here.

Patch file photo.