Mar 13, 2014 11:29 AM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Marietta College in Ohio announced Tuesday that it is eliminating 20 full-time positions to deal with a budget shortfall, The Marietta Times reported.

University officials said they needed to make job cuts to be able to make investments needed to help ensure the college's future sustainability. The cuts are expected to save the university $1.1 million.

Tom Perry, executive director for strategic communications and marketing for Marietta College, told The Marietta Times that employees, including those affected, had been notified earlier in the day.

"We are proud of our employees and their dedication to the students and this outstanding institution," Marietta College President Joseph Bruno said in a statement, according to The Marietta Times. "That is what makes this move so difficult. The individuals most directly impacted are seeing their positions eliminated not because of performance issues, but because of our need to capture funds for the future."

Bruno said the school must meet pressing budget needs for the near future  and should have the opportunity to pursue healthy investment in key areas of the institution that are fundamental to the institution's core mission.

"As we look at positioning Marietta College for long-term stability and establishing priorities for the future, some very tough decisions had to be made with the college's limited budget options," he said. "These actions are aimed at reallocating resources to new initiatives designed to ensure that the overall student experience meets the expectations of today's demanding college students and their families."

The plan was first presented to the college's Board of Trustees on Feb. 13-14, and it received strong support for its vision and its impact. They then asked the senior administration to consider some other initiatives, according to the release.

"While a reduction in force is always difficult, I believe it is incumbent upon the administration of Marietta College to be tireless in maximizing our organizational resources in support of our Marietta College students," Bruno said.

Bruno added that the university will continue to explore every available option to address ongoing budget challenges and to minimize any future reductions in staffing levels.

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