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STEUBENVILLE -- Eastern Gateway Community College has laid off some of its support staff.
EGCC spokesman Dennis Willard said the reductions were "an effort to align the college with the decrease in enrollment."
"These decisions have been challenging, but our mission to help our unique student body pursue the dream of a higher education remains our No. 1 priority," Willard said. "Those impacted by the layoffs have the opportunity to work with our career development department to seek other career opportunities."
Willard declined further comment.
EGCC, however, in August had announced a tentative settlement in a year-long battle with the U.S. Department of Education over its Free College Benefit program. The final terms of that agreement are still being negotiated.
DOE claimed the college violated financial aid rules by subsidizing its FCB program with Pell Grant money they'd awarded to income-eligible students. EGCC disputed the allegation, but in July 2022 the education department ordered the college to stop offering FCB and submit a teach-out agreement. EGCC responded by filing suit, winning a temporary injunction blocking DOE from enforcing that order.
But in court filings in May, several months before the tentative settlement, EGCC had complained it was owed millions of dollars in reimbursements for student aid they'd paid out of institutional funds. In that motion, EGCC alleged DOE "continually and repeatedly delayed reimbursements" owed to EGCC "with the apparent intention of bankrupting EGCC before any administrative process can happen."