On April 1, President Roger Hughes and Dr. Judy Kawamoto attended the Student Congress (StuCo) meeting to discuss Doane Forward. This initiative aims to prepare for Doane’s future by addressing the university’s past and ongoing financial struggles.
As a tax-exempt organization, Doane’s tax returns are publicly available through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website. In 2024, the university reported revenue of approximately $63 million and expenses of around $75 million, resulting in a loss of approximately $12 million. Notably, the university also operated at a deficit of about $7.4 million in 2021. During that time, a process called “prioritization” led to the elimination of several programs and positions on campus, including criminal justice, philosophy and Asian studies.
With investments such as the new Performing Arts Center, the recently opened Brodie Hall and the proposed business building, it can seem like the University is financially stable. However, many of these changes were funded by donors or intended to increase revenue, as indicated in the minutes from the April 1 meeting.
During that same meeting, students shared what they believe makes Doane’s culture special, with many mentioning the positive impact of professors. However, there is a possibility that some faculty positions may be cut. Dr. Kate Marley, Faculty Council chair and professor of biology, stated that she hasn’t been provided with a specific number of positions that might be eliminated.
“I believe it depends on too many factors to estimate at this time,” Dr. Marley said. “I hope no faculty positions are cut, but I guess we’ll see.” This sentiment underscores comments made by Vice President of Academic Affairs Sue Larkin in March, who argued that any claims about specific impacts are premature.
While all faculty were given their contracts simultaneously, a mail mix-up with first-year faculty contracts caused a delay that was later resolved. However, this left some faculty members entering a meeting about potential position cuts without a contract in hand.
Dr. Marley reassured that those involved with Doane Forward are discussing the importance of providing support to ensure a smooth transition for any affected faculty. During a March 30 meeting, Staff Council addressed utilizing the Career and Leadership Services Office as a resource and offering mock interviews for staff.
In the remainder of April, the Leadership Team will review the information they have gathered and begin planning for the future. They will present their findings to President Hughes, who will then take them to the Board of Trustees, which will meet on May 7 and 8. Implementation of any changes is set to begin on July 1.
Effective communication has been emphasized multiple times since the announcement of this process. In the March 30 Staff Council meeting, the minutes noted that concerns about “the President’s car or the leadership team bonuses” highlight areas where communication issues arise. Doane Forward was officially introduced to students on March 31 in an email that outlined several goals and strategies, including bi-weekly updates for students. With just a few weeks remaining, this means that only a few email updates will be sent before the initiative is presented to the Board of Trustees in May.
During the April 1 Student Congress meeting, it was noted that the rumor mill should not be relied upon for information. Instead, students are encouraged to use one of several communication methods.
Questions and concerns can be directed to doaneforward@doane.edu. Students can also bring questions to the Doane Forward table in the dining hall between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Additionally, any student is welcome to attend the Student Congress meetings held every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Perry Boardroom.
