RENSSELAER— The suspension of academic activities at Saint Joseph's College is "expected to be permanent in nature," according to a document filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, notice filed Tuesday, the college notified the department of its plans to terminate 36 employees in April for its first round of layoffs amid a suspension starting after the spring semester.
Spencer Conroy, vice president for business affairs, wrote in the document that the pending suspension of almost all activities on its campus "may ultimately result in the closure of the entire college," although that hasn't yet been determined.
He said the board has directed the administration to undertake a study to determine the financial feasibility and practicality for developing a plan that would end the suspension. The report will be given to the trustees no later than June 30, 2019, according to the document.
"While we hope that this action is temporary in nature, unless the report proves provides a viable option, this action is expected to be permanent in nature," Conroy wrote.
That contradicts what the college has been telling the campus community since the board voted for the suspension two weeks ago. A news release sent to the campus after the vote stated leaders had plans to launch a "re-engineered" Saint Joseph's.