Posted 11:11 am Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Some Lon Morris College Employees Paid Late
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE — Cash flow issues continue to plague Lon Morris College, resulting in late paychecks for some employees and a financial struggle. However, officials said they are moving forward without sacrificing the classroom experience of a private two-year, faith-based liberal arts school.
Lon Morris President Dr. Miles McCall said the institution's struggle is no different than what other small businesses are facing in this economy.
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE — Cash flow issues continue to plague Lon Morris College, resulting in late paychecks for some employees and a financial struggle. However, officials said they are moving forward without sacrificing the classroom experience of a private two-year, faith-based liberal arts school.
Lon Morris President Dr. Miles McCall said the institution's struggle is no different than what other small businesses are facing in this economy.
“These are tough times,” he said. “We're trying to make the cuts and will keep getting through it.”
Lon Morris has about 150 employees, including faculty, staff and seasonal hourly workers, who generally receive payments around the first and 15th of each month. There are times when employees are paid later than what the college would like, and there are some employees who have never been paid late, McCall said. The college also has a number of employees who haven't been paid in December because they don't work that month.
“We will struggle in our pay periods. … Usually it's not but a few days (early) or (late),” he said.
In the end, late payments can be attributed to cash flow problems, officials said.
Lon Morris has about 150 employees, including faculty, staff and seasonal hourly workers, who generally receive payments around the first and 15th of each month. There are times when employees are paid later than what the college would like, and there are some employees who have never been paid late, McCall said. The college also has a number of employees who haven't been paid in December because they don't work that month.
“We will struggle in our pay periods. … Usually it's not but a few days (early) or (late),” he said.
In the end, late payments can be attributed to cash flow problems, officials said.
Lon Morris does not receive tax money like state schools and relies on tuition and donations.
Therefore, McCall said, accounts payable comes in when tuition from government sources arrive. He said December, March, April, May, June, and July are particularly hard months because students may leave for the holidays or summer still owing money from the previous semester.
Therefore, McCall said, accounts payable comes in when tuition from government sources arrive. He said December, March, April, May, June, and July are particularly hard months because students may 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 said. “We have to accept that endowment revenue is down (and) donors can't give that much.”
To address financial struggles, the school is cutting expenses where it can.
For example, it has pulled back on scholarships, increased tuition, and has had to dissolve or combine positions.
To address financial struggles, the school is cutting expenses where it can.
For example, it has pulled back on scholarships, increased tuition, and has had to dissolve or combine positions.
However, students are still able to get the same classroom education, said Breezy Lake, Lon Morris Hospitality Administration Program director. She noted that the school has even added new programs within the last few years, including agriculture, dance performance and hospitality administration.
Now, McCall said Lon Morris is “plugging away in a tough time” and even has a group of professional volunteers helping with the private stages of a capital campaign, which could launch this spring.
“We have a great staff and a great faculty,” McCall said. “We're watching the health of the institution … We will keep meeting challenges and eventually we will all be in a better place.”
Updated Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 11:10 a.m. CDT
Now, McCall said Lon Morris is “plugging away in a tough time” and even has a group of professional volunteers helping with the private stages of a capital campaign, which could launch this spring.
“We have a great staff and a great faculty,” McCall said. “We're watching the health of the institution … We will keep meeting challenges and eventually we will all be in a better place.”
Updated Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 11:10 a.m. CDT
