New email from corporate about the layoffs.
As you heard during our July Town Hall meetings and recent updates from our CEO, Jack Massimino, our operating environment today is as complicated and difficult as we have seen it in many years and our student population has declined as a result.
There are several underlying factors, including the loss of Ability-to-Benefit students, extensive changes in federal regulation, a decrease in new online enrollments along with an increase in online student attrition.
We are taking many steps to improve student outcomes, including launching the Online Student Success initiatives, and we are seeing encouraging signs.
While we are implementing those changes, it is also necessary to implement cost savings efforts. Last week we conducted a workforce reduction, which included the elimination of 65 select positions across the division as well not backfilling approximately 50 open positions. These actions were taken to better balance our workforce to align with our Online Student population and to reduce our operating expenses.
I recognize that another expense reduction is not welcome news and is difficult on all employees, but we must act in the best interests of the entire company, its employees, students and shareholders.
We also must ensure that Online is best positioned to meet our current operating goals while preserving the quality of service and education we provide our students. Now more than ever, we must focus on our Online Student Success initiatives to improve student outcomes. Coupled with a focus on continued improvements in our contact center operations, we remain focused on restoring our growth and profitability.
I realize the last few years have been difficult ones, but dedicated employees like you help us continue on the path to providing the best Online education possible for our students. Thank you for your continued support and dedication!
Please don’t hesitate to connect with the Senior Leadership team (Mitch Gerken, Mike Jenkins, Keith Burkhalter, Brian Zotti, Tina Stavredes) or your direct supervisor should you have additional questions.