By Denice Thibodeau
Danville Register & Bee
Published: May 2, 2008

Higher education institutions statewide are looking at state budget cuts, and the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research is no exception.

“In February, the governor’s office asked higher education institutions to submit budget reduction plans,” Deborah Morehead, manager of communications and public relations, said Thursday. “We were asked to cut 3 percent from the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 fiscal years.”

In a news release dated Wednesday, the Institute’s interim executive director, Jerry Niles, said, “… the Institute has had to review its financial health in ways similar to many other local government agencies, state agencies and private businesses. Thus, reductions in staffing at IALR have been made, primarily in areas of administrative services, to achieve necessary cost savings.”

Names of those positions cut were not released, in keeping with the Institute’s personnel policy, Morehead said.

She said the cuts would not affect the Institute’s research and education program, which will continue to grow.

“We’ll focus on our education and research programs,” Morehead said. “Our partnerships with Averett, DCC, the city and county schools, Old Dominion University, VIR and VIPER are healthy and flourishing.”

She also said Niles called staff together Wednesday and emphasized that the positions that were eliminated affect people who were highly valued, and who would be missed on a daily basis.

“Yesterday was not a happy day for anyone,” Morehead said Thursday. “We’re a family here and we’re just making the best of a bad situation.”

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.