Posted 11:57 pm Saturday, April 21, 2012
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Lon Morris Makes March 31 Payroll
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
After delaying paychecks last month, Lon Morris College officials are making good on their promise to secure funds for employees.
On Monday, the comptroller informed faculty and staff that funds would be processed and ready to pay on Thursday, said Jessica Chiles, director of admissions and media relations. So on Thursday, live checks could be picked up, and employees with direct deposit received funds Thursday and Friday.
As of Friday, all employees had been paid for the March 31 payroll.
Ms. Chiles said officials are now working on the April 15 payroll.
“In the last meeting that we had, (President) Dr. (Miles) McCall … did make it clear to faculty and staff that it is a priority that funds are secured, so they’re making every step possible to ensure employees are paid what’s owed to them,” she said.
In the meantime, Lon Morris is looking toward the future by doubling recruitment efforts and having recruiters go into schools to personally talk with potential students. A drill team also is slated to kick off this fall.
“We’re just moving forward, and we’re making efforts to make everything work out,” Ms. Chiles said.
Staff Writer
After delaying paychecks last month, Lon Morris College officials are making good on their promise to secure funds for employees.
On Monday, the comptroller informed faculty and staff that funds would be processed and ready to pay on Thursday, said Jessica Chiles, director of admissions and media relations. So on Thursday, live checks could be picked up, and employees with direct deposit received funds Thursday and Friday.
As of Friday, all employees had been paid for the March 31 payroll.
Ms. Chiles said officials are now working on the April 15 payroll.
“In the last meeting that we had, (President) Dr. (Miles) McCall … did make it clear to faculty and staff that it is a priority that funds are secured, so they’re making every step possible to ensure employees are paid what’s owed to them,” she said.
In the meantime, Lon Morris is looking toward the future by doubling recruitment efforts and having recruiters go into schools to personally talk with potential students. A drill team also is slated to kick off this fall.
“We’re just moving forward, and we’re making efforts to make everything work out,” Ms. Chiles said.
The private two-year, faith-based liberal arts school in Jacksonville, which has about 150 employees, including seasonal workers, has faced financial struggles.
Employees have received late paychecks about four or five times in the past year. In December, Lon Morris administrators and several faculty and staff deferred paychecks so their colleagues could receive the money they were owed.
Officials have said the issue arises because of cash-flow problems.
Lon Morris does not receive tax money like state schools and relies on tuition and donations.
Therefore, accounts payable comes in when tuition from government sources arrive, McCall has said. He said December and March through July are particularly hard months because students might leave for the holidays or summer still owing money from the previous semester.
Employees have received late paychecks about four or five times in the past year. In December, Lon Morris administrators and several faculty and staff deferred paychecks so their colleagues could receive the money they were owed.
Officials have said the issue arises because of cash-flow problems.
Lon Morris does not receive tax money like state schools and relies on tuition and donations.
Therefore, accounts payable comes in when tuition from government sources arrive, McCall has said. He said December and March through July are particularly hard months because students might leave for the holidays or summer still owing money from the previous semester.
“All of our revenue sources are attached to the way the economy is going,” McCall has said. “We have to accept that endowment revenue is down (and) donors can’t give that much.”
David Hubbard, the new executive director of student enrollment and retention services, said earlier this month that Lon Morris is doing everything it can to clean up things that would have disrupted cash flow, and the business office is calling in students to ensure that payment situations are addressed. In the past, the school also pulled back on scholarships, increased tuition and dissolved or combined positions.
Now, even with the financial struggles, Lon Morris is “full speed ahead,” Hubbard has said.
Hubbard, who became the director of business affairs at Lon Morris in 1985 and served in various leadership positions during the next 14 years, said earlier this month that Lon Morris always has faced an “uphill battle” when it comes to finances, but it is ready to move forward once again with a balanced budget for 2012-13.
“I’ve seen this institution come back so many times,” he previously said. “Trustees are the most dedicated people. They live and breathe and love this school.”
David Hubbard, the new executive director of student enrollment and retention services, said earlier this month that Lon Morris is doing everything it can to clean up things that would have disrupted cash flow, and the business office is calling in students to ensure that payment situations are addressed. In the past, the school also pulled back on scholarships, increased tuition and dissolved or combined positions.
Now, even with the financial struggles, Lon Morris is “full speed ahead,” Hubbard has said.
Hubbard, who became the director of business affairs at Lon Morris in 1985 and served in various leadership positions during the next 14 years, said earlier this month that Lon Morris always has faced an “uphill battle” when it comes to finances, but it is ready to move forward once again with a balanced budget for 2012-13.
“I’ve seen this institution come back so many times,” he previously said. “Trustees are the most dedicated people. They live and breathe and love this school.”
