The higher ed bubble continues to grow.

The GW Hatchet reports.

Knapp explains decision behind 46 staff layoffs

GW staff members said they watched as their colleagues packed up, some escorted by security officials, after they were dismissed from their jobs without warning last week.

Officials announced last week that the University would lay off 46 staff members and eliminate other already vacant positions. After they were not allowed to say goodbye to some of their peers, staff members said they’re offended and were not consulted before the layoffs or warned that they were coming.

Members of the Staff Association said that 10 percent of the 300 positions in the Division of Information Technology were terminated, according to reports they received from University officials. Staff members said other departments that were hit included development, human resources and Gelman Library. They ranged from regular staff positions to director-level and vice president-level spots, and some of those laid off were employees who had been at GW for as long as 30 years, they said.

“The vast majority of the 46 affected staff were removed immediately from their positions without warning and were abruptly escorted off campus by security without an option of saying goodbye to coworkers,” said one staff member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.