Lefton ends hiring freeze

Carrie Blazina

The hiring freeze in place at Kent State since December 2010 was lifted Monday, said Willis Walker, vice president of human resources, in an email to faculty and staff.

“As a result of the prudent budgetary oversight that was demonstrated by all levels of management during the restriction, the university was able to meet its strategic objectives,” Walker wrote, which allowed officials to end the hiring freeze.

The email said the decision was made by President Lester Lefton after consulting with new provost Todd Diacon and Gregg Floyd, senior vice president for finance and administration.

Walker said in the email the freeze was put in place 15 months ago “in anticipation of a significant decline in state revenues.” As previously reported, the restrictions meant no new professors or staff could be hired unless the hiring was “mission critical,” as Lefton put it, but now the hiring request form necessary during the freeze is no longer in place.

Walker thanked the university community for its cooperation.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to university leadership and academic and non-academic units who incorporated the Hiring Request form and guidelines into their departmental hiring process,” he said. “You have made lasting contributions to the university’s financial stability and effective hiring procedures while ensuring continued excellence in the education and services we provide to our students.”

Contact Carrie Blazina at [email protected].