MSUM president doesn't foresee layoffs

MOORHEAD - Minnesota State University Moorhead is adjusting to what President Edna Szymanski calls "the new normal," or doing more with less.

In a town hall meeting Tuesday morning, Szymanski told faculty and staff to expect continued reductions in state appropriations.

Yet at the same time, MSUM is working to increase its enrollment to about 8,000 students.

"We're expected to serve more students with less money," Szymanski said.

Over the spring semester, MSUM employees will work on streamlining how they do business to become more efficient.

But Szymanski does not anticipate having to cut employees.

"I don't see layoffs in the future unless there's a catastrophe," she said.

Today, MSUM is recognizing 39 people who have retired since May 15. All but 10 of them accepted early retirement incentives that were offered as a way to balance the budget.