Higher Ed Counsel & Strategic Solutions

Summer offers a valuable opportunity for colleges and universities to review their HR policies and employee handbooks before hiring cycles intensify and campus operations become more demanding in the fall. Human resources policies shape how institutions handle recruitment, employee conduct, leave, complaints, performance issues, accommodations, and separations. When those policies are outdated, inconsistent, or poorly communicated, legal risk can spread across departments quickly. A summer review helps institutions identify problem areas before they lead to employee conflict or administrative strain.

Summer is often the most practical time to reduce legal risk on campus. While most students are away and the academic calendar appears quieter, institutional leaders know this is when many of the decisions that shape the upcoming academic year are made. Policies are revised, trainings are scheduled, contracts are renewed, and the fiscal year turns over.

Reductions in force (RIFs), also referred to as layoffs, downsizing, or restructuring, remain one of the most challenging workforce management decisions college and university employers face. Beyond the operational and financial considerations, RIFs carry significant legal, reputational, and strategic risks and considerations. Institutions must carefully navigate federal, state, and local laws, as well as policies and procedures unique to higher education such as tenure and faculty handbooks, while also ensuring that their actions are fair, transparent, and sensitive to affected staff and faculty.