Faculty and Staff Reductions

In response to the challenging financial situation for our synod and MLS, the school’s Policy Council presented its Reduction in Force plan (RIF) to the MLS Governing Board on Friday, June 6.  The board had requested the plan in March.  After a thorough review of the plan and many questions, the board adopted the plan as presented.

The plan eliminates six faculty positions.  It eliminates the vacant position of mission advancement director.  The plan also eliminates seven full- or part-time non-called staff positions.  All changes are effective June 30.  All of these workers will receive severance packages through the synod’s transitional fund. 

We are not identifying the names of the individuals involved in these staff changes here because of privacy issues related to Internet postings.  More information about the RIF plan has been sent to the families of our students.  If others are interested in more information, please contact info@mlsem.org.

The impact on the lives of the people directly affected by these changes is immeasurable.  These are all faithful men and women who served Seminary well for many years; they will be dearly missed.  May the words of St. Paul comfort each of them as they face the coming days and weeks, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

The RIF plan includes some minor changes in our curricular and extracurricular programs.  It also includes program changes to reduce costs in various campus areas; these changes totaled enough money to save one faculty position from being cut.

While our staff will be reduced, MLS will have a 1:10 teacher-student ratio, which is typical for boarding high school programs like Seminary’s.  Our curriculum, our extracurricular activities, our dormitories, and our other campus programs will be fully staffed for school year 2009-10