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GREENSBORO — When students begin returning to Greensboro College next week, some familiar faces will be missing — along with some classes.

Last week, the small Methodist college announced 10 layoffs. Among them, as students and faculty learned this week, were three part-time music teachers and the school’s director of bands.

Down to just 68 full-time faculty members, the school is now reshuffling to staff classes scheduled to begin in August.

“The campus’ part-time faculty budget has been eliminated,” said Paul Leslie, the school’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “That means that as we approach the first day of class, in the week before, we may cancel some classes, and we may add some others.”

In a statement to the college, board of trustees Chairman Robert Stout said the layoffs were necessary to create a sustainable budget and “should end all of the talk about Greensboro College’s future.”

But the layoffs seem to have done little to quiet speculation about the fate of the 171-year- old school.

“People are concerned about this college, and they have appropriate levels of concern,” Leslie said.

“But the faculty are all working together to meet these challenges we’re facing and we’re doing everything we can for the sake of this community and fulfill the mission of the college.”

More than $19 million in debt, the college has put most of its campus and its $17 million endowment up as collateral to Bank of America. The bank has extended the college’s line of credit, allowing it to meet payroll obligations throughout the summer as it restructures with help from Charlotte-based NaviscentGroup.

Craven Williams, the school’s longtime president, abruptly retired earlier in the month and has given no interviews.

Leslie said a new leadership group, including faculty and staff, has been working on the issue of where the college goes from here as the board of trustees mounts a search for an interim president.

For now, that means determining what to do with departments decimated by layoffs. After losing its only full-time French teacher in the April round of layoffs, the school is debating the future of its French major. 

With three fewer part-time instructors in the music department, Leslie said the faculty is working hard to try to staff all the courses music majors need.

“Knowing the realities about money that’s available, we’re trying to be as creative as we can,” Leslie said. “Our faculty shines and are stars when they do what they’ve been hired to do, which is teach. We’re working through everything else right now, but that is still our focus. And we’re proud of that.”
 

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian @news-record.com