More than 90 faculty and staff have been laid off at one of Oklahoma’s oldest colleges.
Bacone College’s outgoing president told 2 Works For You Tuesday that they might have to suspend classes.
Students are shocked about the news.
Some could potentially be without a school and others worrying about where they’re going to stay this summer.
It’s May—schools and colleges are winding down their Spring semester, but at Bacone College, Frank Willis, Bacone College Outgoing President,”we’ve run out of money,”
Willis said the historic campus in Muskogee could be closed for one to three weeks.
"I’m a senior I’ve got one more semester left," student TJ Styles said. "I’m just trying to graduate and move on. This school got so much money out of me already so I’m still trying to be faithful not trying to give up because it’s frustrating,”
Willis says the new president is working to secure funding to fill a $2 million budget hole.
”A lot of people are in my situation that have one more semester left," Styles said. "So, with that being said we’re putting in that hard work, putting in that time, we want answers,”
"If those sources of support don’t come in we will have to close Bacone," Willis said. "The oldest school in the state. It would be a true tragedy,”
Now the concern turns to around 90 faculty who won’t have a job and international students who are looking for a place to stay and continue their education.
”If we had that money, we’d be open," Willis said. "It’s the $2 million we need and there would not be a care in the world,”
President Willis says the college will hold graduation for seniors on Saturday.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
