Budget cuts to the College of Engineering have terminated a position held by a woman who was known as “Mom” by both the students and businesses she helped during the last decade.

Jean Jones, secretary of the college’s career services, has served the College of Engineering’s Career Services as its scheduling coordinator for the last 10 years but will leave her position because of decreased funding.

Jones acted as a liaison between employers and engineering students. She would set up meetings and interviews between the two parties — a role that was brought to a larger scale as she helped with the College of Engineering’s career fair during its annual E-Week celebration in the fall.

To replace some of the duties Jones performed, the college will implement a new software program. However, the college will lose many things as a result of her termination, Jones said.

“To be honest, what the businesses and students told me was that they wanted a friendly face, someone who cares and gives 150 percent, and the personal service,” she said. “That’s what the students and businesses will miss. Technology is great, but it can only take you so far.”

She has befriended thousands of students and has made thousands of business contacts during the last decade, many of whom have come to her defense, she said, nearing tears.

“I’m absolutely amazed and astounded at the impact, and at the students that have walked up, or called, or e-mailed me. I’ve talked to some [business] recruit-ers, and they feel the same way, even though I haven’t talked to all of the recruiters yet,” Jones said.

She said she fears telling her other business contacts about the news.

“It’s going to be very difficult for me to let them know, because they are not just work relationships, but friendships,” she said. “I don’t want this to impact their decision to come to Iowa State. I don’t want this to hurt ‘my kids.'”

Jones said she looks at the students and businesses she helps as her “kids,” and they call her “Mom” all the time.

“I’m blessed with a lot of children,” she said.

Of the many students coming to her support, at least one is working to get the decision to terminate her position reversed.

Andrew Eis, senior in mechanical engineering, said he feels the decision was wrong.

“It’s a shame what they’re doing. I know some employees here who don’t deserve to step on this land because of their apathy towards the students,” Eis said. “We need more Jean Joneses.”

He said he has known Jones since his freshman year and said she has been a friend to him and other students. He said he has expressed his discontent to the college administration and thinks others should do the same.

“Students are getting screwed a lot on this campus, and it’s going to happen more in the future with the layoffs [of staff],” Eis said. “Before, I thought students couldn’t do anything about it, but maybe that’s not the right attitude.”

James Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, said he understands Jones’ reputation with those she works with.

“I like her. I think she’s a very good person, and obviously she’s well-liked by students and others,” Melsa said.

However, Melsa said the cuts in the college have focused on the college’s administration, forcing the college to cut Jones’ position.

“The most important issue is supporting the educational experience. We tried to minimize the number of faculty positions and educational resources lost, so we had to cut more deeply into administrative services,” he said, “which obviously are helping students too, but we wanted to make sure we had students in the classrooms.”

Larry Hanneman, director of the College of Engineering’s Career Services, was given the responsibility of making specific cuts in the college’s career services department. Hanneman said other positions within the college’s Career Services will be eliminated as well, but those have yet to be made public.