Cal Lutheran’s new president, Lori E. Varlotta, understands the vision, and sometimes pain, necessary to bring about change. Varlotta scratched the honeymoon period and swung into action. She asked her cabinet to work six days a week to identify $23.6 million in cuts that would have the least impact on students and faculty. They instituted a temporary partial reduction in hours for 52 staff members whose workload had been lessened by the pandemic and laid off 17 others. Additional savings will come from a pause in retirement contributions and reductions in supply and travel budgets.
