Dive Summary:
- The Memphis College of Arts' decision to lay off four faculty members and sell much of its art collection follows president Ron Jones' May 7 declaration of the school's "inability to meet current faculty salary obligations."
- According to Jones, the school started with a balanced budget on July 1 as a result of the decision.
- A student-created Facebook page, "MCA Faculty Termination Discussion," displays a wide range of reactions.
From the article:
The Memphis College of Art has laid off four faculty members and plans to divest much of the college's 550-piece art collection to head off financial problems at the 75-year-old private school.
"All four of us suspected that we were on the (layoff) list," said Jennifer Sargent, former associate professor and director of exhibitions. "We were told that (MCA president Ron Jones) would be working from the periphery to the core in eliminating faculty positions, and we were on the periphery."...