GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Massachusetts Community College Council faculty and staff at Greenfield Community College voted No Confidence in President Michelle Schutt for a historic second time. According to a statement from the union, During President Schutt’s tenure, administrative bloat and fiscal mismanagement resulted in a 10% budget deficit equating to $2.9 million that Administration said could only be fixed by cutting jobs and radically reducing student access to faculty. GCC is the only community college in the state with a deficit despite increasing enrollment from free community college programs.

GCC Faculty and Staff Vote No Confidence in President Schutt for Historic Second Time 

GreenfieId, Massachusetts — Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC) faculty and staff at Greenfield Community College voted No Confidence in President Michelle Schutt for a historic second time. Of 86 ballots cast, 89.5% voted No Confidence, exceeding the rate of the first No Confidence vote taken in June 2024 (78 ballots, 87%). 71% of eligible voters participated, a far higher rate than in any U.S. presidential election on record, and higher than in the first No Confidence vote (67%).

During President Schutt’s tenure, administrative bloat and fiscal mismanagement resulted in a 10% budget deficit ($2.9 million) that Administration said could only be fixed by cutting jobs and radically reducing student access to faculty. GCC is the only community college in the state with a deficit despite increasing enrollment from free community college programs.

The No Confidence statement voted on includes specific reasons members have strongly expressed their mistrust in President Schutt:

“Whereas President Michelle Schutt has mismanaged the financial resources of the College by creating a top-heavy administrative structure and expending funds on consultants with no clear benefit, resulting in a significant deficit during a time of steadily increasing enrollment;

“Whereas threatened retrenchments of positions and a radical reorganization of the academic program in order to close the deficit will significantly undermine the quality of instruction at the College and curtail student support;

“Whereas President Schutt has responded to our previous Vote of No Confidence and Demand for Change largely in performative rather than substantive ways;

“Whereas through these actions, the President has failed to uphold GCC Core Values, including Transparency, Inclusion, and Integrity;

“Whereas her actions have also led to a widespread climate of fear and disrespect, as well as mistrust of the President;

“And whereas we perceive the President lacks the skills, the temperament, and the vision to successfully lead the College in this challenging and uncertain time;

“Therefore the GCC Professional Association resolves to declare No Confidence in the President.”

GCC faculty and staff had never voted No Confidence twice in a president before President Schutt. Local MCCC Chapter President Trevor Kearns commented, “Our members gave her two years to course correct after the first No Confidence vote, and what did we get? A hole blown in the budget that our members have been losing sleep over for months, not knowing if they’d have a job come July. The educators and students at GCC deserve competent leadership, especially with such uncertainty at the national level.”