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1 | hil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Some data has been incorporated from "Higher Ed Retrenchment," a spreadsheet by Kevin Reuning (Miami University). Bryan Alexander has also been documenting these cuts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Thanks to all the colleagues around the US who have sent additions, corrections, sources, and suggestions since this document was shared in mid-April 2024. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Institution | State | Cuts | Management Rationale | Faculty and Student Response | Notes | Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | Albion College | MI | 11 employee layoffs | "long-standing structural deficit" (college spokesperson) | 1. Michigan Live | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Albright College | PA | 29 faculty and staff layoffs; 24 open positions left unfilled; | "While the past several months have been challenging for us all, today has been a difficult day as we navigated through a reduction in our workforce to ensure the long-term stability of Albright College. This difficult decision was not made lightly, and we will all bear the weight of it for some time." | "While the past several months have been challenging for us all, today has been a difficult day as we navigated through a reduction in our workforce to ensure the long-term stability of Albright College. This difficult decision was not made lightly, and we will all bear the weight of it for some time." | 1. WFMZ | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Alderson Broaddus University | WV | university closure; bankruptcy filing August 2023; 150 staff laid off; 800 students forced to transfer | "[in July 2023] the university’s Board of Trustees voted to develop a plan to disband after another board overseeing the state’s four-year colleges and universities revoked its ability to award degrees effective Dec. 31." | "It’s like somebody died in the community ... It will never be the same town again. It will always be a different town,” Hunter Mullens (ABU alum and president of local chamber of commerce) | 1. KTAR 2. Mountain State Spotlight | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Alverno College | WI | April 2024 announcement of unspecified "program changes and a reduction of faculty and staff positions" to be recommended to Board of Trustees "within 60 days" | "In the face of ongoing financial pressures within the higher education landscape, particularly among small private institutions, Alverno College acknowledges the need for proactive measures. The college is diligently exploring diverse strategies to maintain its mission's integrity. Regrettably, this entails making difficult decisions including notifying our college community about employee reductions, to safeguard our financial sustainability." (Alverno College press release, April 2024) | 1. WISN 2. Alverno College | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Arkansas State University | AR | 9 academic programs eliminated; | "It’s important for all the colleges and universities in Arkansas to offer programs that students are interested in and train them for a successful life,” [chief communications officer] Todd Clark said. (K8 News). | Programs eliminated: M.A., Criminal Justice, C.P., Leadership Studies, C.P., Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, G.C., Health Communications, B.S., Health Promotion, B.S., Multimedia Journalism, B.A., Music, T.C., Paramedic, A.A.S., Paramedic | 1. K8 News | ||||||||||||||||||||
10 | Bacone College | OK | classes suspended spring 2024; threat of complete closure | “Providing oversight for Bacone has been a struggle because of the leadership or lack thereof,” said [art professor Gerald] Cournoyer, who also is a renowned Lakota artist. Some presidents focused time and money on athletic programs, others on Bacone's Baptist missionary roots. “When you put absolutely no money, nothing, not $20, not $10, into your fundraising efforts, this is what you get.” | "A few years ago, experts from a museum in Tulsa warned that many of the [signifcant Indigenous] paintings are contaminated with mold, which will spread to other nearby works of art. Leslie Hannah, a Cherokee educator who sits on the college’s board of trustees, said he’s concerned, but the cost of restoring them falls far down the list, behind broken gas lines, flooded basements and a mountain of debt." | 1. Cherokee Phoenix | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Baldwin Wallace University | OH | 23 NTT faculty and staff layoffs; 13 academic programs eliminated | "As a tuition-driven institution, it is imperative that we are operating efficiently so that every possible resource can be devoted directly to the student experience" (school spokesperson) | Programs eliminated: International Studies and National Security programs will merge to form a new major; French and German programs will no longer admit new students; Religion and Philosophy programs will no longer admit new students and merge; Business Information Systems, Enterprise Risk Analytics, Organizational Leadership, Business of Healthcare major and the Healthcare Management minor programs will no longer admit new students; Industrial and Organizational Psychology will no longer admit new students; School Leadership M.A.Ed. Graduate Program for superintendent licensure will no longer admit new students. | 1. WKYC | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Bemidji State University | MN | 24 faculty layoffs; | "No one ever wants to make cuts," [President] Hoffman said. "I've tried to apologize to every individual who we've laid off, because even though it may feel like I know it's the right thing for the university, it still hurts for them." Had things continued as they were "we would have faced viability questions at some point in the near future," Hoffman said. (Star Tribune) | "We have zero margin for error," [Faculty association President Thomas] Dirth said, "and a lot of this is out of our control." | "Officials acknowledge the cuts are disproportionately affecting faculty of color, many of whom were hired more recently than their white colleagues. And some who remain expect they could face additional job responsibilities." Enrollment dropped from 4,000 to ~3,000. | 1. Star Tribune | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | Bethany Lutheran College | MN | 6 academic programs eliminated | Programs eliminated: Majors: American Studies, History, Social Studies, and Theatre; Minors: Philosophy, Global and Cross-Cultural Studies; language programs: Latin and Norwegian. | 1. KEYC News | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Birmingham Southern College | AL | college closure May 2024; 150 faculty layoffs; 1,300 students need to transfer | "The Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to close the College after a 2024 bill designed to amend the 2023 legislation that established the loan program on which our future depended failed to win sufficient support in the Alabama House of Representatives. Without that funding, the College does not have the resources to continue" (Keith Thompson, chair of BSU trustees). | The college tried to obtain a $30 million bridge loan through the AL legislature after several years of financial difficulty. | 1. AL.com 2. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Bluffton University | OH | merging with University of Findlay | "We’re all aware that higher education is facing significant changes and challenges. These times call upon us to be innovative and forward-thinking” (U of Findlay president Katherine Fell). | "While the universities said they are entering the merger “from a place of financial stability,” both said they have faced financial challenges. Bluffton has suffered a significant drop in enrollment over the last decade, with its student body declining from 1,198 in fall 2012 to 745 in fall 2022, according to federal data." (Higher Ed Dive) | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. U of Findlay | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Bradley University | IL | 38 faculty layoffs + 21 job losses via "attrition"; 15 academic programs eliminated | "We had a bad year. And that bad year threw off the debt service coverage ratio. It's just, you know, what can you say? It was a bad year. Students were down and we spent too much money, basically" (CFO Cofer). "Nearly 25% of Bradley University programs account for more than 75% of student enrollment. Regrettably, continuing down this path is simply not viable" (President Standifird). | "[Bradley AAUP chapter president Amhad] Fakheri said the university faculty committee worked diligently to provide a report with proposals that would have “produced real cuts,” preserved the historic nature of the university and put it on stronger financial footing. “The President appears to have ignored all of that and instead focused primarily on cutting the academic programs, the sole reason students attend Bradley” (Higher Ed Dive) | Programs eliminated: Actuarial science (mathematics), Apparel production and merchandising, Business law, Ceramics, Entrepreneurship, Family consumer science education, Family life science, Hospitality leadership, International studie, Math education, Pre-K – 12 administration and leadership, Printmaking, Professional sales, Religious studies, Statistics | 1. Peoria Journal Star 2. Peoria Journal Star 3. Higher Ed Dive 4. WCBU | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | Brandeis University | MA | 60 staff layoffs; projected $2m budget deficit; graduate programs under review for potential cuts (May 2024) | "Though the changes we need to make will be difficult, they are necessary to allow us to direct our resources to the areas that will help ensure our long-term financial stability, meet the challenges of changing demands in higher education, and attract excellent students to Brandeis for years to come” (President Ron Liebowitz). | "Brandeis informed faculty members in its music department last summer that the university’s doctoral degree programs in composition and theory, and musicology, would be put on hiatus. Liebowitz said in his recent letter to the community that some “PhD programs already placed on hiatus are likely to remain on hiatus.” A spokesperson confirmed the music programs remain paused." (Boston Globe) | 1. Boston Globe | ||||||||||||||||||||
18 | Brooklyn College, CUNY | NY | CUNY asking BC to cut budget by $3.5 million in 2023-24 and $4.5 million in 2024-25; | "Underfunding over time and rapid enrollment loss created a structural deficit that now poses an existential crisis" (President Anderson) | Faculty vote of no confidence in President Anderson, Dec. 2023 | Cafeteria closed Fall 2023 and rat infestation in several buildings (NY Daily News). See also separate entry for CUNY system. | 1. PSC-Brooklyn College 2. NY Daily News | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | Buffalo State University | NY | 27 academic programs eliminated, 10 additional programs under review for elimination in Spring 2025 (May 2024); $16.5m budget deficit; voluntary separation program | programs eliminated: Afro-American Studies, B.S.; Biology Education, certificate; Chemistry, M.A.; Chemistry Education, M.S.Ed.; Chemistry Education, certificate; Dance, minor; Design, B.S.; Early Childhood Education, B.S.; Early Childhood Education, M.S.Ed., Foreign Language Education, M.S.Ed.; French and Francophone Culture, minor; French Education, B.S.; French Education, certificate; Italian, minor; Literacy Specialist, 5-12, M.P.S.; Physics, M.A.; Physics Education, certificate; Professional Applied and Computational Mathematics, M.S.; Professional French, minor; Spanish Education, B.S.; Spanish Education, certificate; Special Studies, B.S.; Urban Education, M.S.; Urban Studies, B.A. programs under review for deactivation by Spring 2025: Applied Math, B.S.; Ethics, minor; Gerontology, minor; GIS, minor; Mathematical Logic, certificate; Non-Spanish and Chinese Concentrations, certificate; Printmaking, minor; Printmaking Concentration, concentrations in B.F.A. and B.A; Religious Studies, minor; Statistics in Insurance, certificate | 1. Buffalo State U 2. Inside Higher Ed | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Cabrini University | PA | university closure May 2024; ~2,000 students, ~200 faculty (65 full-time) | “Faced with significant financial challenges, exacerbated by declining enrollment and the COVID-19 pandemic,” [President] Drinan said, officials “determined that there is no credible path forward that will allow Cabrini University to continue operating beyond June 2024" (AP). | Villanova University likely taking over campus/buildings. | 1. AP | ||||||||||||||||||||
21 | California State University System | CA | tuition hikes of 6%/year for 5 years, overall budget deficit of $1.5 billion | "We cannot survive unless we take action. No one wants to do this, but it is our responsibility,” said Jean Picker Firstenberg, a CSU trustee. | "This misguided and ill-informed idea will price out current and potential students – especially those who identify as Black, brown, immigrant, low-income, and/or first-generation college students” (California Faculty Association). "It’s so disheartening to see that the board of trustees did not listen to the hundreds of us that came out yesterday. To have them completely ignore what we said and not do their job fully to secure the proper finances we need for this issue is such a big disrespect” (Angelie Taylor, a junior at Cal State Channel Islands and a student organizer at Students for Quality Education). | "There are courses that are going to be cut, there will be employees that are going to have to be cut, and that’s the reality of what we’re dealing with” (Trustee McGrory). | 1. EdSource 2. AP | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | California State University, Monterey Bay | CA | 16 staff layoffs; 86 voluntary retirements; | “CSU Monterey Bay is addressing the current budget reductions to ensure sustainable growth while providing quality educational opportunities to our students and allowing room to focus on strategic initiatives in the future.” | 1. Monterey Herald | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Cambridge College | MA | acquired by Bay Path University | "Cambridge’s governing board believed finding “a larger platform and a like-minded partner” was the best route to advance its mission, the institution’s interim president, Stephen Healey, said in a statement. “Bay Path University is uniquely suited to integrate Cambridge College’s programs and serve our non-traditional student body,” Healey said. (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Higher Ed Dive | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | Cardinal Stritch University | WI | university closure; 660 employee layoffs; 60 programs closed | "fiscal realities, downward enrollment trends, the pandemic, the need for more resources and the mounting operational and facility challenges" (President Scholtz) | "This is a beautiful place with amazing professors, and I guess I just want to hold out hope that something can be done to save the university because a lot of us don't want this place to go" (Jumanah Almohsin, student). | Green Bay Press Gazette | ||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Chatham University | PA | 20 staff layoffs (Aug. 2023); salary reductions for faculty, admin making >$100K; reduction in retirement plan matching funds; cuts to healthcare | "Board of Trustees Chair David Hall told faculty and staff via email that the private university faces an increasing deficit in its operating budget, projected then to be between $8-12 million, and likely needs to “realign costs and revenue” over the next two years." (Open Campus) | "I cannot emphasize enough how low the morale is. People are just devastated and feel so victimized by all of it,” said Jennie Sweet-Cushman, an associate professor of political science. “How do you get up in the morning and put in a 12-hour day instead of an eight-hour day when your retirement’s been cut and your benefits have been cut?” (Open Campus) | 1. Open Campus | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | Christian Brothers University | TN | 17 faculty layoffs, 11 open positions; 12 academic programs eliminated (Dec. 2023) | “We are taking these extraordinary actions to ensure that CBU continues as a flourishing and prosperous four-year establishment for the foreseeable future” (online FAQ). | SACSOCS put the university on probation; university declared financial exigency. Programs eliminated: Chemistry, Cultural Studies, Ecology, Engineering Physics, English, History, History Education, Liberal Studies Master of Education, Physics, Politics and Law, Political Science. | 1. Higher Ed Dive. 2. CBU. | ||||||||||||||||||||
27 | City University of New York (CUNY) | NY | 9 colleges identified as "colleges of concern" in Jan. 2024 with alleged "structural deficits" requiring cuts: BMCC, Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, John Jay College, Kingsborough CC, New York City College of Technology, Queens College, School of Professional Studies, and York College | CUNY faculty union PSC argues that university management has failed to ask for adequate funding from NYC and state. "CUNY needs more operating aid, but if the administration will not stand up and say so – if they choose instead to cannibalize the colleges’ budgets – then we must condemn the strategy they are pursuing as a choice. It is not merely an inexorable result of “structural deficits” but a decision about their funding challenges." | See separate entries for Brooklyn College, Queens College, and York College. CUNY Faculty Senate reported in Jan. 2024 that 5 colleges projected to be in deficit end of 2023-24: York, Staten Island, Queens, Kingsboro, Medgar Evers. | 1. PSC-CUNY 2. CUNY Faculty Senate | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | Clarkson University | NY | 9 academic programs eliminated, School of Arts and Sciences eliminated, 20 employees facing potential layoffs; 16 master's in education programs transferring to Siena College, with 100 students and 8 faculty/admin transferring to Siena | [VP for External Relations] Chezum said the university is planning to introduce even more STEM majors in the next few years. "In order to create new programs, we want to look for ways that we can reallocate our funding to make those work," Chezum said. "Just like businesses, you sometimes you have to decide what you're not going to do anymore in order to be able to really flourish and do the new things you want to do." (North Country Public Radio). | Programs eliminated: social documentation, history, literature, sociology, film, political science, digital arts and sciences, communications and media, and interdisciplinary liberal studies and humanities | 1. North Country Public Radio 2. Clarkson U | ||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Cleveland State University | OH | $34 million budget deficit; $9 million allocated for faculty buyouts | "CSU faculty union leaders say they’re skeptical of these buyouts and the university’s overall cost-cutting plans, because the administration has not been sharing updated financial information with them either" (cleveland.com) | enrollment at CSU has fallen from 16,237 in fall 2018 to 13,838 in fall 2023 | 1. cleveland.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
30 | Clinton Community College | NY | campus closure, moving to SUNY Plattsburgh by 2025 | "Clinton Community College is much more than just a place with buildings because its defining core are the academic programs and its mission and purpose. We are committed to ensuring that every step we take is thoughtful, inclusive, and geared toward strengthening our institution for future generations” (President John Kowal). | "enrollment went from a high of 2,249 students in 2012 to a low of 994 in 2022-23". CCC under "non-compliance warning" from its accreditor. | 1. Press-Republican | ||||||||||||||||||||
31 | College of Saint Rose | NY | college closure spring 2024; 2800 students enrolled; 80 buildings left empty; 118 full time faculty, 100+ part-time faculty, unknown number of staff layoffs | "The closure of Saint Rose is truly heartbreaking for all of us who care deeply about the history and legacy of this institution and the extraordinary students we serve and have served for 103 years,” Saint Rose President Marcia White said in a note to students and staff. “We are announcing this now, months in advance of the actual closure, to give you as much time as possible to plan for your future.” | "Everyone is very frustrated and heartbroken with everything that is going on," said Erin Duffy, a College of Saint Rose junior. “Our voices want to be heard, and they’re not being heard right now. They’re not taking any questions at this time, which is very upsetting.” “I just remember like going, 'oh my gosh, like what am I going to do?” College of Saint Rose junior Annie Catone said. (Spectrum News 1) | "Over the past three decades, sweeping decisions made by The College of Saint Rose leaders to attract students backfired. The Board of Trustees tripled the size of the campus. Enrollment dropped while the college took on double-digit debt. The private institution cut expensive programs. Some faculty members rebelled, saying the board was destroying the college. The college’s budget deficit — which the cuts were supposed to fix — continued to grow" (Times-Union). | 1. WNYT 2. Albany Times-Union 3. National Center for Educational Statistics 4. Spectrum News 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
32 | Columbia College | MO | 65 staff layoffs, 57 unfilled positions eliminated; 17 campuses converted to online only | "These very difficult decisions were made after exploring every alternative as we reshape Columbia College,” President Dr. David Russell said in a news release. “We believe these important steps will ensure a strong future for CC, with minimal impact or disruption to our students’ academic pursuits.” | 1. KOMU | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | Columbia College Chicago | IL | 70 staff layoffs; 32 open positions eliminated | It felt like the college created a “culture of anxiety” to prompt staff to leave on their own said [Lillian] Gecker, co-membership chair for the union [and laid-off staff member]. Students and staffers shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of “financial missteps,” she said.” (Chicago Tribune) | "Declining enrollment has contributed to the college’s deficit, a school spokesperson said in a statement. The deficit is expected to increase to $38 million by the end of the current fiscal year. The school announced last month that first-year deposits were down 46% and transfer deposits down 36% compared with the year before" (Chicago Tribune) | 1. Chicago Tribune | ||||||||||||||||||||
34 | Columbus State Community College | OH | 14 staff layoffs announced (May 2024); $6.8 million budget decifit in fiscal year 2024 | "As part of Columbus State’s ongoing focus on student success and the region’s workforce needs, the college is restructuring to further align personnel and operating resources to these highest-priority goals." (press release). | 1. CWColumbus | |||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor | WI, MI | 24 employee layoffs at Mequon campus (April 2024). Ann Arbor campus "will likely lay off staff and sell property and equipment by fall" | "financial instability" | "Concordia’s tax forms show the school has run a deficit in five of the last six years, ranging from $2 million to $6.3 million" | 1. Wisconsin Public Radio 2. Wisconsin Public Radio 3. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Cox College | MO | college closure in 2025; 825 students enrolled | "Cox College has grown to become one of the largest allied health colleges in Missouri, but we cannot meet all healthcare workforce growth demands alone. By combining our resources and expertise with our partners, we will significantly increase the number of healthcare professionals for our rapidly-growing region” (President Wutke). | "plans to move its associate programs to Ozarks Technical Community College and its bachelor’s and graduate programs to Missouri State University" (Higher Ed Dive) | 1. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Delaware College of Art and Design | DE | full closure, May 2024 | "This decision was incredibly difficult, and we explored every possible avenue to avoid it,” President Jean Dahlgren said in a statement. “However, declining enrollment over several years, including for the upcoming year, has made it impossible for us to continue effectively offering our educational programs.” | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Delaware News Journal | |||||||||||||||||||||
38 | Delta State University | MS | $3 million budget cut in 2024-25, including elimination of 25 academic programs reductions in deanships, administrative staff, early retirement incentives, elimination of most open positions (May 2024) | "While eliminating programs, services, and positions is never easy, it is necessary if we are to provide resources to those programs and services that have the capacity to help this university grow and thrive. That is why you will see new degree programs proposed below, and that is why there are new positions funded, even as some current positions are being discontinued. This university cannot continue to try and be “all things to all people.” (President Ennis, May 2024). “The running of deficits year after year has eaten into our reserves,” [Ennis] said. (Mississippi Today). | programs eliminated: Art – BA, Art – BFA, Digital Media Arts - BFA, Studio Art – MFA, Entertainment Industry Studies – BS, English – BA, English Education – BSEd, Secondary Education English – MEd, Chemistry – BS, Natural Sciences – MSNS, Mathematics Education – BSEd, Mathematics – BS, Music – BA, Music Education – BMEd, Music – BM, History – BA, Social Studies Education – BSEd, Accountancy – MPAC, Finance – BBA, Health, Physical Education and Recreation – BSEd, Ed.S. in Counseling, Ed.S. in Elementary Education | 1. Mississippi Today 2. Delta State U 3. Mississippi Free Press 4. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
39 | Dickinson State University | ND | 8 faculty layoffs (5 tenured); 7 academic programs eliminated. | "President Stephen Easton has said cutbacks are needed to correct a projected $1 million budget hole" (Higher Ed Dive). | "Faculty argued that if Easton slashed jobs, including some tenured positions, they would likely be hard-pressed to cover general education courses. And they pleaded with him to maintain teacher education programs, as the North Dakota governor recently signaled that attracting and retaining K-12 instructors are state priorities" (Higher Ed Dive). | Programs eliminated: bachelor degrees in mathematics education, communication, political science, music, theater, mathematics, and information analytics. | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Higher Ed Dive | |||||||||||||||||||
40 | Drake University | IA | 3 academic programs eliminated (April 2024); earlier threat of 9 faculty layoffs, 13 academic programs eliminated, reduced to 3 programs and no layoffs after review and appeals through Faculty Senate and Board of Trustees | "The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving as colleges and universities across the country face declining enrollments driven by the lingering effects of the pandemic and a precipitous decline in the number of high school graduates going to college. Staying true to our mission promise, we are confronting this moment as an opportunity to strategically position Drake for long-term growth and success" (President Martin, April 2024) | academic programs eliminated (April 2024 BoT vote): East Asian Studies minor Religion major (Religion minor will be retained and reconfigured) Evidence-Based Healthcare graduate certificate [original proposal was for elimination of 13 programs, reduced after review by University administration, Faculty Senate, Board of Trustees] | 1. Iowa Capital Dispatch. 2. Higher Ed Dive. 3. Drake University 4. Drake University | ||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Duke University | NC | university herbarium eliminated | "we have carefully considered the requirements to maintain [the herbarium] in the manner in which it should be maintained, which would include multiple endowed faculty and staff lines as well as state-of-the-art facilities ... it’s in the best interests of both Duke and the herbarium to find a new home or homes for these collections" (Dean Alberts) | "Duke will never be a leader in biodiversity like it was before,” said Kathleen Pryer, professor of biology and director of the herbarium since 2005. “... [Administration] just never discussed with us, never had conversations where ‘let's put our heads together and see what we can do,’ [or] crowdfunding.” (Duke Chronicle) | 2nd largest university herbarium in US; 825,000 plant specimins | 1. Duke Chronicle | |||||||||||||||||||
42 | Eastern Gateway Community College | OH | 85 faculty layoffs; enrollment suspended for Fall 2024; college to dissolve June 2024 unless funds obtained | "financial constraint of the college" | Students offered enrollment at Youngstown State U. | 1. WKBN 2. WKBN 3. WKBN | ||||||||||||||||||||
43 | Eastern Oregon University | OR | 4 staff layoffs, 23 open positions unfilled, $5 million budget cut (May 2024) | "“It is another shot to morale. It is troubling, it hurts," [President Ryan] said, adding that higher education is under attack in many circles and public support for it at the legislative level in states, including Oregon, is fading." | 1. La Grande Observer | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | Fontbonne University | MO | university closure in 2025 announced March 2024; campus to be purchased by Washington University (St. Louis); previously, Dec. 2023, 19 faculty positions were eliminated; 21 academic programs eliminated | “Despite the best efforts of faculty, staff, administration and our faithful supporters, we have faced challenges, including more than 15 years of enrollment decline heading into the enrollment cliff, the impact of COVID, and many other financial struggles impacting small, private institutions like ours across the nation,” Nancy Blattner (university president). | "When I came to tour last year, they weren’t very forthcoming about the reality of being a student here,” [student who requested anonymity out of fear for her campus job] said. “I wish I had done more research before I came here because I had no idea” (St. Louis Post Dispatch). Enrollment less than half what it was 10 years ago (874 compared to ~2,000). | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Fontbonne University 3. St. Louis Post Dispatch 4. Fontbonne University 5. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
45 | Fresno Pacific University | CA | 11 faculty layoffs (10% of faculty); 12 open positions eliminated; 13 academic programs eliminated | "The university said in a statement that the realignment will help deal with a projected deficit and free up resources to improve the student experience and explore new academic programs." (San Joaquin Valley Sun). | "Today’s announcement indicating a third wave of layoffs despite accepting millions in COVID bailout money indicates years of financial mismanagement at the highest of levels on campus” (alumni petition). | Programs eliminated: undergraduate: Arts Administration, Biblical/theological studies, Chemistry B.A., Chemistry B.S., Graphic design, Mathematics B.A., Mathematics B.S., Applied mathematics, Philosophy, Political science, Pre-law, Spanish and Theater. Bachelor’s degree completion program: Computer information systems. Graduate and seminary programs: M.A. in sports administration, M.A. in theology, Old Testament. | 1. San Joaquin Valley Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
46 | Gettysburg College | PA | closure of renowned Gettysburg Review literary journal | "Bob Iuliano, president of Gettysburg College, and Jamila Bookwalla, the college’s provost, said the “changing demographic and enrollment realities across higher education” means the college must have “a more intentional focus on the programs and activities that directly and significantly enhance student demand and the overall student experience.” (Penn Live) | "We have been offered a rationale for this decision, but it’s frankly one that neither [managing editor] Lauren [Huhle] nor I understand or accept,” [editor Mark] Drew wrote in a statement on the Gettysburg Review’s website. “It is disappointing that the administration has had three years of financial crisis to have a single conversation with us and chose not to," [said Huhle]. (Penn Live). | |||||||||||||||||||||
47 | Goddard College | VT | college closure; 12 staff layoffs; 220 students [previously announced shift to remote classes] | “The closure of Goddard College is a significant loss for students in search of an alternative, progressive higher education,” board chair Mark Jones said in a statement. “The decision to close Goddard College was not made easily or quickly. With declining enrollment and financial insolvency looming, the Board was left with no other option. Our hearts are broken.” | "So many people have such fond memories of the campus itself, which is absolutely beautiful in this forested, pastoral way," she said. "I think Goddard is a place that gives people a break, in which they can exist outside of the dominant culture, just for a period of time." (Cara Hoffman) | "Enrollment dropping from 592 in fall 2013 to 320 in fall 2022" | 1. AP 2 Vermont Public 3. Higher Ed Dive 4. Goddard College 5. vtdigger | |||||||||||||||||||
48 | Hesston College | KS | 13 faculty, staff layoffs (30% of faculty workforce); 11 academic programs eliminated | "The college is facing fiscal and enrollment challenges and in April acknowledged past failures in responding to reports of sexual harassment and abuse" (Anabaptist World) | Faculty voted no confidence in college president September 2023; he resigned in November 2023. | Programs eliminated include: education, physical education, psychology, sociology, sports ministry, music, theater, communications, English, history and Spanish. | 1. Anabaptist World | |||||||||||||||||||
49 | Hodges University | FL | university closure; | "Unfortunately, due to financial challenges and declining enrollment numbers, we can no longer provide the quality educational programs that we have provided over the past 33 years." (President Wendel) | "enrollment has dropped significantly in the past decade or so, from more than 2,000 students in fall 2013 to about 440 in fall 2022" (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Hodges U 2. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
50 | Kent State University | OH | $68 million budget cuts threatened 2024-28; layoffs will occur | “We're going to have to make notable changes, changes in how we operate,” [President Diacon] said. “Changes in how we operate our regional campuses. Changes in how we organize academic programs. We'll need to make noticeable reductions in the number of employees at Kent State. And it isn't that we will have to do more with less. It's rather that we're just going to have to figure out how to do things differently.” (Ideastream Public Media, Feb. 2024) | 1. Ideastream Public Media | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | Lake Erie College | OH | "meet a required debt service coverage ratio, which is considered an event of default, according to a regulatory filing dated Jan. 15. The school also only had seven days of cash-on-hand in fiscal 2023, while it was required to have 25 days" (Bloomberg) | "sold about $30 million of debt in 2019 in part to finance a barn and other projects at its 86-acre equestrian center." (Bloomberg) | 1. Bloomberg News | |||||||||||||||||||||
52 | Lakeland Community College | OH | 66 staff layoffs (10% of workforce), Jan. 2024. | "This is where a magic wand would be most appreciated. As it does appear that, despite our efforts over the preceding years, we are likely looking at balancing the budget through a reduction in employees" (President Beverage). | "The thing is, enrollment trends are predictable," he said. "I mean, why now? Why do $3.5 million in cuts in the middle of the semester? I just don't get it." (president of faculty union chapter). | "More cuts are scheduled to be announced next year." | 1. Cleveland Scene | |||||||||||||||||||
53 | Lasell University | MA | 4 faculty layoffs (end of 2023-24 AY); "several" open faculty lines unfilled; 12 staff layoffs; 5 academic degree programs eliminated summer 2023 | “These decisions are the most difficult that the Board of Trustees and I ever have to make, because they affect our valued colleagues and friends," [former President] Alexander, who retired recently after leading the school for 16 years, wrote in the email. “Yet, they are essential to prepare us for the demographic changes we know are coming, to position us for sustained growth, and to protect Lasell's long-term financial future." (Boston Globe). | Julia Laplante, a rising senior majoring in English, said that the decision to cut humanities majors sends the message that university leaders “don't believe in [us] or what [we're] studying." Laplante added that she fears the university is “turning into a business," by focusing on the academic departments that bring in revenue. (Boston Globe). | Programs eliminated: global studies, sociology, English, history, and fitness management. "Lasell is considering ways to increase revenue, including adding an engineering major, partnering with historically Black colleges on exchange programs, and renting out some of the Victorian houses on its campus to young professionals seeking housing near Boston" (Boston Globe) | 1. Boston Globe (paywall) | |||||||||||||||||||
54 | Lesley University | MA | 30 faculty layoffs (>20% of core faculty); 4 degrees eliminated; | 43% enrollment decline since 2012; "Please be assured that these decisions did not come easily, quickly, without deep concern for our employees and students, or without significant effort to make changes in other ways” (president and provost email to faculty). | 3 faculty votes of no-confidence in president; "We demand that the faculty members who have received the notification of contract revocation/modification are treated with respect and dignity, are reassigned to comparable positions – if desired - according to their preferences, and receive a competitive severance package." "“Supposedly, Lesley is not eliminating the English major,” said Mary Dockray-Miller, one of the English professors laid off in October. “But you’ve eliminated all the faculty who teach the English major. So how is that going to work?” | degrees eliminated: political science, sociology, global studies and graduate-level photography | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Change.org petition 3. Harvard Crimson | |||||||||||||||||||
55 | Lincoln Christian University | IL | university closure May 2024; "transfer ownership of its seminary school to Ozark Christian College, an institution just over 400 miles away in Missouri." 16 faculty threatened with layoffs | "Declines in enrollment and donor giving mean Lincoln Christian cannot continue to operate independently, its president, Silas McCormick, said" | "enrollment has cratered over the past decade, falling from 1,066 students in fall 2012 to just 258 students in fall 2022" (Higher Ed Dive) | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. LCU | ||||||||||||||||||||
56 | Magdalen College | NH | college closure | low enrollment (only has 60 students) | 1. WMUR | |||||||||||||||||||||
57 | Manhattan College | NY | 23 faculty (19 tenured) layoffs, Jan. 2024; previously, 23 faculty signed separation agreements in Fall 2023, many under threat of layoffs in January if they did not sign; 20 academic programs eliminated | layoffs: "furtherance of the college’s financial budgeting requirements, enrollment, academic and programmatic needs, streamlining, centralization, and consolidation.” Program closures: “To better align our resources with these efforts, we have made the decision to eliminate a limited number of programs with low enrollments." | 90% faculty vote no confidence in President Riverso; “Help Defend Tenure at Manhattan College” GoFundMe. | Programs proposed for elimination: Undergraduate Majors: art history, Camino, E3MC, environmental studies, French, labor studies, nuclear medicine technology, philosophy, religious studies, urban studies. Undergraduate Minors/Concentrations: Arabic, theater, Chinese, critical race and ethnicity studies, cultural anthropology, digital arts and humanities, film studies, Italian, Japanese, medieval studies, social services, women and gender studies, ethics. Graduate Programs: mathematics and data analytics, school building leadership, M.S. accounting. | 1. Chronicle of Higher Ed 2. Riverdale Press 3. Quadrangle 4. Quadrangle | |||||||||||||||||||
58 | Marietta College | OH | 22 faculty & 14 staff layoffs; 10 academic programs eliminated (9 undergrad, 1 grad) | "Given the anticipated significant drop in college-going students over the next 10 years, it is vitally important that we remain flexible and creative and open to change" (President Drugovich) | "My first reaction was honestly anger because I put a lot into going here” (Megan Mestuzzi, student). | external consultants: AGB Consulting, Robert Dickeson. Programs eliminated: Asian Studies, Environmental Engineering, ESL & Linguistics, Global Leadership Studies, Land & Energy Management, Music Education, Music Therapy, Spanish, Vocal Performance, Master of Athletic Training | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Marietta College 3. Parkersburg News & Sentinel | |||||||||||||||||||
59 | Marquette University | WI | proposing $31 million cut in budget over next 6 years | "Although we are in a strong financial position, Marquette – like other universities – is facing increasing economic and demographic pressures. Fewer traditional students are attending college, and those who do attend often need more financial and other support. Marquette relies on enrollment to generate revenue to operate the university – nearly three-quarters of our operating revenue comes from tuition and room and board." (President Lovell) | "Ben Pladek, director of graduate studies and an associate professor in Marquette University's English department, said he was "deeply angry and deeply disappointed," saying Marquette's leadership "has acted toward us in profound bad faith." “Budget cuts this big must have been known about for months in advance. We heard nothing about them. We certainly weren’t consulted about whether they were necessary," said Pladek, who is also the secretary treasurer of Marquette's chapter of the American Association of University Professors." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | 1. Higher Ed Dive. 2. Marquette University 3. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | ||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Maryland University of Integrative Health | MD | acquired by Notre Dame of Maryland University; "[NDMU] expects to continue all of MUIH’s programs and keep its employees and students." (Higher Ed Dive) | "Offering programs in both traditional health sciences and integrative health is unique and will position NDMU as one of the nation’s most distinctive leaders in healthcare education,” said Dr. Marylou Yam, president of Notre Dame of Maryland University. “With the demand for all health professions expected to increase over the next decade, this opportunity to add integrative health programs ensures that NDMU will continue to educate innovative healthcare leaders and caregivers.” | 1. NDMU 2. Higher Ed Dive | |||||||||||||||||||||
61 | Methodist University | NC | 30 faculty and staff layoffs; 4 academic programs eliminated; | "immediate adjustments must be done for the good of Methodist University to keep the institution fully aligned with student demand and with our strategic priorities" (President Wearden). "Some money from the savings is being used to boost the high-demand areas, [Director of Marketing and Communications Brad Johnson] said. He pointed to the hiring of 10 senior leadership positions for Methodist’s new medical school, expected to open in 2026." (CityView) | Programs eliminated: Majors in Fine Art, Music, Music Performance, Music Composition, Special Education, Secondary Education | 1. Fayetteville Business Journal 2. WTVD 3. CityView | ||||||||||||||||||||
62 | Miami University | OH | 6 majors eliminated (Feb. 2024); further academic program cuts to be announced May 2024 | "Rather than eliminate them, [Latin American Studies and Spanish major Olivia] Thomas wants to see the university promote these programs in the same way it does other majors. She says she only found out about the Latin American studies major through word-of-mouth from her professor. She claims if she only paid attention to the university's marketing, she would have never known about it. With some help, she says the humanities can grow at Miami. "It's kind of a circular issue of 'Oh these are low enrolled, also but we're not going to promote them,' " Thomas said. (WVXU) | Latin American Studies major eliminated; French, Italian, German, Russian, and East Asian language majors combined into a new World Languages and Culture degree. (WVXU) | 1. WVXU 2. WVXU | ||||||||||||||||||||
63 | Monroe Community College | NY | unspecified number of layoffs planned, “involuntary reduction in staffing.” | “In consultation with our partners in faculty leadership and as outlined by MCC’s collective bargaining agreement, reductions are being discussed that will ensure the continuity of the learning experience of our students and are also in line with our fiscal reality" (college statement) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | Multnomah University | OR | acquired by Jessup University (600 miles south in California); "Multnomah will lay off some of its staff, but Jessup will keep a majority of the institution’s faculty" (Higher Ed Dive) | "This new partnership represents a necessary intervention in order to preserve the legacy of Multnomah while launching into the future,” Multnomah said. “Without this partnership with Jessup University, the challenges of financial sustainability and declining enrollment left us with no viable path to continue independently.” | Multnomah U enrollment declined by a third in last decade; running significant budget deficits; | 1. Higher Ed Dive | ||||||||||||||||||||
65 | New Jersey City University | NJ | State-appointed fiscal monitor recommends NJCU merge with a "fiscally sound New Jersey public institution of higher education" | "I appreciate the Monitor’s attention and collaboration as we have continued our work of strengthening NJCU’s mission and honorably serving the people we are privileged to serve,” [President] Acebo said. “I remain confident in our community’s resiliency and the brilliant promise of its future.” | NJCU declared financial emergency in 2022. Debt is $287 million. | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Higher Ed Dive. 3. State fiscal monitor report | ||||||||||||||||||||
66 | Newman University | KS | 8 academic programs eliminated (10 new programs added)_ | "a strategic effort to realign educational offerings with changing student trends, market forces and emerging industry demands ... Despite the rich history and contributions of these programs, the realignment is essential to maintain a commitment to academic excellence and to ensure the sustainability and relevance of Newman’s academic portfolio.” (University statement). | "I had to go cry and punch a punching bag for a little bit,” said Newman University theater major Dannicka McGrath. “I’m worried that I’m not gonna be able to learn what I need to learn to get my degree.” | Programs eliminated: English, finance, history, marketing, math, philosophy, social work, and theater; programs added: (undergraduate) agribusiness, computer science, digital design and adult and professional studies; (graduate) biomedical science, business administration, data science, online social work and education. | 1. KWCH 2. KWCH | |||||||||||||||||||
67 | New School University | NY | $52 million budget deficit in 2023-24; sale of president's residence; School of Public Engagement threatened with closure (April 2024) | 1. New School 2. New York Times. 3. New School AAUP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | Northland College | WI | 9 faculty layoffs (of 40 total faculty) (May 2024), declared financial exigency April 2024, with threat of closure; late April 2024, "transformative" donor gifts staved off closure; discussions about budget cuts and layoffs continue | "Northland College Board of Trustees today voted to declare financial exigency, setting off a process designed to provide a final, good faith effort to save Northland College" | “I also want to caution that Northland’s circumstances remain incredibly serious and significant progress will be needed in the next two weeks to avoid closure,” Ted Bristol, the college’s board chair. | 1. Northland College 2. Higher Ed Dive 3. MPR News 4. Wisconsin Public Radio | ||||||||||||||||||||
69 | Notre Dame College | OH | college closure end of Spring 2024 semester; ~50 faculty layoffs; 1,400 students need to transfer | "Officials said the college’s board “worked tirelessly for years on multiple fronts to address long-standing issues.” That list included refinancing debt, launching a fundraising campaign around its centennial anniversary, and “strategically” using pandemic relief funding. “These heroic efforts were not enough to close the financial gap in time to satisfy debt obligations and allow the school to continue to operate independently,” (Signal Cleveland) | "It’s more painful than just, you know, I don’t have a paycheck,” she said. “At this point, it’s hard to leave this place.” (Lisa Mobley, biology lab technician) | “There will be an M&A [mergers and acquisitions] model in higher ed, the likes of which we haven’t seen, maybe ever, in this country,” she said. “I don’t take pleasure in that. But it’s just our reality.” (Cleveland State University president Laura Bloomberg; CSU had discussed acquiring NDC). | 1. Signal Cleveland 2. Notre Dame College 3. Higher Ed Dive 4. Signal Cleveland | |||||||||||||||||||
70 | Oak Point University | IL | university closure April 2024 | "It comes in response to a series of factors that have affected our University. Despite the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, and the unwavering support of our alumni and friends, the challenges we face are beyond what we can surmount in our current form” (President Scanlan). | "A lot of people were kind of blindsided by this, our school emailed us yesterday that they’d be closing,” said one nursing student. “As bad as the situation is for the students, I feel even worse for the professors I have. Really good people who are trying to look out for the success of all their students.” (NBC5 Chicago) | hundreds of students at the nursing-focused university will have to transfer to Lewis University; 50% decline in enrollment in last 5 years; | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Lewis University 3. NBC5 Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||
71 | Ohio Northern University | OH | several academic programs eliminated or merged (May 2024) | Program cuts/mergers (email from President Baumann, May 2024): "Phasing out both the major and minor in Religion, Physics (including Astronomy), and Spanish (including the education licensure and the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals minor). Phasing out the majors, though keeping the minors in Data Analytics, Philosophy, Public Health, and Sociology. Phasing out the majors in Forensic Accounting and Auditing Services (MSA degree), Writing and Multimedia Studies, and Youth Ministry. Phasing out the minors of Digital Composition in Journalism; Geography; History; International Studies; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL and TESOL with education licensure); and Writing in Business, Science, and Technical Fields. Combining the majors of Studio Arts (BA) and Graphic Design (BA and BFA) into one major, Art & Design (BA). Likewise, combine the minors of Art and Graphic Design into one minor, Art & Design." | 1. email from President Baumann to ONU students, May 4, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
72 | Park University | MO | 16 faculty layoffs; 15 academic programs eliminated; 15 of 39 campuses closed | "University officials blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for college enrollment falling nationwide." | "Many students here are even considering leaving and going to a new school, because they don’t feel like their education should suffer for the price they’re paying” (student). | Programs eliminated: master's in social work, national security studies, and education for language and literacy; three bachelor’s degree concentrations, two certificates, and seven minors. | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Kansas City Beacon | |||||||||||||||||||
73 | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | PA | college closure at end of 2024-25 academic year; 37 students must transfer; "PAFA said there will be employee reductions in the coming months but did not share exact figures" | "PAFA is not in a position to adequately meet the needs of today’s college students,” the institution said in a FAQ, citing dramatic changes in the higher education landscape over the past 10 years. This transformation has resulted in “educational, financial, operational, and management challenges that are difficult, if not impossible, for small institutions to overcome,” PAFA said (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. CBS News Philadelphia. 3. PAFA | |||||||||||||||||||||
74 | Pennsylvania State University | PA | proposed cuts of $100 million in fiscal year 2026 budget; large-scale voluntary separation incentive program May 2024 | "These are not one-time challenges or situations that are going to go away. This is why we must take a hard look at our programs, our portfolio, infrastructure, operations — frankly, the entire business model for higher education ... Some of our programs have areas of duplication. Others must demonstrate their relevance to the students and the employers of today” (President Bendapudi). | "They are understandably wary of promises to include employee input when so often in the past consultation has meant informing faculty and staff after a decision has already been made and is about to be implemented,” (Faculty Senate chair Michele Stine). | "Last year, the university announced a new budget model that would allocate funding based on student credit hours, revenue, and headcount in specific disciplines, with some dollars allocated for research expenditures" (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. Penn State University 3. Spotlight PA | |||||||||||||||||||
75 | Pittsburgh Technical Colege | PA | $8 million budget deficit, "the school may not recover" | July 2023 overwhelming faculty no-confidence vote in president | "The college’s President and CEO, Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith has also been under fire after an independent investigation last year found potential misconduct and mismanagement of money. Audited financial statements followed, showing the school was failing debt covenants and needed to consider mergers and acquisitions." | 1. WPXI 2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3. WPXI | ||||||||||||||||||||
76 | Queens College, City University of New York | NY | 26 full-time NTT faculty layoffs | "These most recent actions came about in December as part of an externally imposed savings target plan” (Queens College spokesperson) | "It wasn’t a conversation. It wasn’t like, ‘This is what we’re thinking of doing.’ It was ‘We’re firing, we’re laying off 26 people,’ and people were really shocked,” Karen Weingarten, faculty union chapter president. “It is heartbreaking and demoralizing to have this top-down clamp put on the whole process for no good reason. Can’t we build CUNY up, instead of throttling it with financial cuts and bureaucracy?” (Talia Schaffer, Queens College and CUNY Graduate Center professor). | See also separate entry for CUNY system. | 1. The City 2. New York Post | |||||||||||||||||||
77 | San Francisco State University | CA | hiring freeze; "voluntary separation program"; mass nonrenewal of part-time NTT faculty (equivalent of 125 FT positions) | "The reductions have been and will continue to be painful ... hopefully within about four years [we will] achieve enrollment and budget stability” (President Mahoney). | "It’s very aggressive, and it’s out of scale,” (SFSU faculty union president). "“I noticed a flier [on campus] about how many San Francisco State administrators make more than the governor of California,” said Tully, “and it was, like, five or six administrators. This is crazy.” (Sheila Tully, anthropology faculty member) | CSU system budget deficit $138 million 2023-24 + $184 million 2024-26 | 1. EdSource 2. Mission Local | |||||||||||||||||||
78 | Savannah State University | GA | 23 employees laid off summer 2023 | "Savannah State University today implemented a reduction in force to help address financial challenges caused by declining enrollment. The difficult decision comes as colleges and universities across the nation are dealing with similar downward enrollment trends," (University statement). | "Officials said from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2023, the university’s state appropriation allocation fell by $5.4 million due to declining enrollment. For the same reason, tuition revenue over the same period has decreased by more than $5 million. With the state’s funding formula based on enrollment, SSU is also preparing for additional reductions for the next two budget cycles in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025." (WJCL) | 1. WJCL | ||||||||||||||||||||
79 | Seattle Pacific University | WA | 63 faculty positions eliminated by 2025; 13 academic programs eliminated; | "“Financial questions and reductions are always hard,” Porterfield said. “It’s been a challenging time and that’s reflected in our enrollment and some of the things that have been happening on campus.” (President Porterfield) | "SPU’s English department has been steadily dwindling since assistant professor of English and writing Mischa Willett started at the university six years ago. “We have lost four positions since I’ve been here – before the cuts,” Willett said. (SPU Falcon) | language majors, English major, and MFA in creative writing disbanded, among others. "In September of 2022, a group of students, faculty and staff at the university sued leaders of the board of trustees for refusing to change the policy barring people in same-sex relationships from full-time jobs at SPU." (King5) | 1. SPU Falcon 2. SPU Falcon 3. King5 | |||||||||||||||||||
80 | Shepherd University | WV | 13 faculty positions eliminated; 13 academic programs eliminated | "Shepherd remains committed to its core values and providing students with world-class, highly marketable education grounded in the liberal arts" (Board of Governors chair Caperton). | Programs eliminated: MS in data analytics & information systems, BS in nutrition, BS in computer & information technology, BS in computer engineering, BS in data analytics, plus 8 minors/concentrations | 1. MetroNews | ||||||||||||||||||||
81 | Sinclair Community College | OH | closing 2 of 5 campuses: Englewood and Huber Heights | "with enrollments down and Sinclair looking to be efficient with its resources, the “responsible decision is to close those down,” [college chief of public information] Peterson said, adding that the college is “doing what the community is showing us they need” (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Higher Ed Dive | |||||||||||||||||||||
82 | St. Augustine University | NC | lost accreditation from SACSOC, appeal denied | "We disagree with the decision made by SACSCOC and plan to appeal to a higher authority with evidence supporting the institution's progress in resolving non-compliance," said SAU Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. | "It's very, very scary to me. I was hoping to graduate this year, but with the school and accreditation, I don't know what to do," student Nicholas Castro said. "It's sad for our children, sad for us as people. It shouldn't have gotten to this point. Now we have to figure our way out of this if there's a way out of this," parent Andrea Parham said. (WTVD) | employees did not get paid in Feb. 2024. | 1. WTVD | |||||||||||||||||||
83 | St. Catherine University | MN | 11 staff layoffs | "The institution posted an operating deficit of $19 million for the fiscal year that ended May 2023 after racking up a $9.5 million deficit the year before ... a former dean of St. Catherine’s nursing school was recently charged with embezzling $400,000 from the university" (Higher Ed Dive) | 1. Higher Ed Dive | |||||||||||||||||||||
84 | St. Cloud State University | MN | proposed elimination of 46 degree programs (of 136) and 50 of 85 minors; proposed cut of equivalent of 57 full-time faculty; budget deficit $5.5 million (May 2024); previously, 19 faculty layoffs (Aug. 2023) | “We have a very large number of faculty members on reassignment because we don’t have enough courses for them to instruct in” (acting president Lee) | List of proposed program cuts and faculty reductions in this story: https://wjon.com/st-cloud-state-university-proposes-cuts-to-staff-faculty-majors/. "St. Cloud State has also faced steeply falling enrollment, which declined roughly 44% from 2010 to 10,420 students in 2022." (Higher Ed Dive) | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. WJON 3. KARE. 4. KARE | ||||||||||||||||||||
85 | St. Joseph's College | ME | 10 employee layoffs; | "restructuring" (President Cassidy) | Portland Press Herald | |||||||||||||||||||||
86 | St. Martin's University | WA | 14 faculty layoffs; $6 million budget deficit; "the school is exploring other cost-cutting measures, including cutting back on part-time employment, continuing a hiring freeze, reducing retirement benefits, and eliminating some majors and minors, likely in humanities programs." | "We are a community. We value each and every individual. However, we don't feel we're doing the best for the community if we ignore some of the financial issues we're experiencing right now ... It's just very difficult today to get a student, a number of students, excited about some of the humanities, the liberal arts¸ we've always prided ourselves on" (President Heynderickx). "Saint Martin's University is experiencing a financial crisis due to declining enrollment of new and returning students." (SMU University Restructure FAQs) | "There are other ways to get at this that haven’t been contemplated, that haven’t been considered, that can actually have an impact on the budget now, not two years from now” (faculty president Ian Werrett). | 1. King5 2. St. Martin's U | ||||||||||||||||||||
87 | St. Norbert College | WI | 12 faculty layoffs (April 2024); 41 employee layoffs, including 7 TT and visiting faculty (fall 2023) | "Demographically, we have fewer 18- to 22-year-olds, and with fewer students, organizations adjust with that and that's what we're doing" (President Joyner). | "We call on the administration to immediately reconsider the decision to fire junior faculty and instead to seriously consider the cost-cutting measures our AAUP chapter has proposed" (St. Norbert C AAUP chapter) | external consultant rpk | external consultant rpk | |||||||||||||||||||
88 | SUNY Buffalo State | NY | hiring freeze (Nov. 2023) | "This is just a first step towards long-term workforce stabilization,” (President Durand). "we will undertake a comprehensive review of [academic] offerings to ensure they meet the evolving needs of higher education and the labor market, as well as the demands of the current and potential students." (President Durand). | "$16.5 million structural deficit as of June 30, 2023" | 1. Buffalo State Record 2. SUNY Buffalo State | ||||||||||||||||||||
89 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University | NY | planned closure of SUNY Downstate University Hospital, Brooklyn, with signicant impacts on medical education: 30% of SUNY Downstate med student rotations are at the hospital | "“We do have a $100 million deficit at SUNY Downstate and we will run out of cash this summer and the building is in disrepair and at risk of catastrophic failure,” SUNY Chancellor John King said." | "In a statement issued in early March, 16 department chairs at Downstate’s medical school and hospital aired major concerns about the medical school’s ability to provide quality instruction and experiences for medical students and residents. The impact on undergraduate and graduate medical education will be “devastating” if the hospital closes, they said." (Caribbean Life). | 1. Caribbean Life 2. NY1 News | ||||||||||||||||||||
90 | SUNY Fredonia | NY | 13 majors eliminated (June 2024) | "These decisions have not been made lightly, but have been made for the common goal we all share: ensuring that the university is responsive to student demand, directing our energies towards building degrees that students are seeking, the long-term financial health of SUNY Fredonia and the success of our students” (Provost Starrett). "In short, our base expenditures simply far outweigh our revenues. This is not sustainable” (President Kolison). | “Today’s announcement is no more than a continuation of the systematic dismantling of SUNY that started under former Gov. Cuomo,” [faculty union president] Kowal continued. “Further, it is a direct attack on the union workers who do the work of educating students at SUNY Fredonia and SUNY campuses across the state" (UUP press release). | Programs eliminated: bachelor's in Art History, French, French education, Industrial Management, Math Education, Philosophy, Sociology, Spanish, Spanish education, Ceramics, Photography, Sculpture, Early Childhood education | 1. SUNY Fredonia 2. Higher Ed Dive 3. United University Professors 4. Buffalo News | |||||||||||||||||||
91 | SUNY Potsdam | NY | 7 tenured faculty layoffs; 9 academic programs eliminated; "[the university] will need to lay off faculty in conjunction with the academic consolidation, but has not disclosed how many" | "As difficult as it has been, this process is critical to securing our future, so we are glad to have been able to engage with our campus community through shared governance, and in collaboration with our student government" (Provost Hersker). | Enrollment declined from 4,400 students in fall 2012 to 2,500 in 2023-24. Programs eliminated: undergraduate: Art history, Chemistry, Dance, French, Philosophy, Physics, Spanish, Theatre; Graduate: Music performance. | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. SUNY Potsdam 3. Chronicle of Higher Education (paywall) | ||||||||||||||||||||
92 | SUNY Rockland Community College | NY | 9 staff layoffs; furloughs (9-day); | "This "Retrenchment Plan" was described as a way for RCC to "streamline, refocus, optimize resources, and pave the way for renewed financial stability and growth" (college spokesperson) | [Faculty union president] Baker questioned why the college's degrading fiscal issues weren't apparent earlier. "We were at a place of balance on June 30, and on July 1, the college was in fiscal ruin," Baker told the trustees. "How does that happen and no one notices?" | 1. Rockland/Westchester Journal News 2. SUNY RCC | ||||||||||||||||||||
93 | Texas A&M University Qatar | TX | Qatar campus to close in 4 years | "The Board has decided that the core mission of Texas A&M should be advanced primarily within Texas and the United States,” Board Chairman Bill Mahomes said. “By the middle of the 21st century, the university will not necessarily need a campus infrastructure 8,000 miles away to support education and research collaborations.” (Texas A&M) | "Our students can't understand how local Texan politics can unilaterally determine a weighty decision about a very successful campus that excels in education without any discussion or negotiation,” Brittany Bounds, a history professor at the Qatar campus. | 1. Texas A&M 2. Texas Tribune | ||||||||||||||||||||
94 | Union Institute and University | OH | evicted from its buildings; owes students $750,000 in financial aid; staff going unpaid; fall 2023 classes canceled | "The university's accreditation agency has placed it in a financial distress designation." "Union Institute's website no longer displays a start date for its next semester, though it still encourages potential students to apply to its degree programs." (WVXU) | 1. Local12 2. WVXU | |||||||||||||||||||||
95 | University of Arizona | AZ | 4.4% budget cuts in fiscal year 2025 (April 2024 announcement); hiring and salary raises frozen; $177 million budget deficit | "The university’s administrators say that inflation, the pandemic and widespread overspending have contributed to its financial problems, and that they are trying to fix the budget without hurting the university’s academics or research." (NY Times) | "We’re all on the same stormy seas, but they’re [university leadership] in yachts, and we’re in rafts,” said Gary Rhoades (education professor) | "[UA] said it would hire outside consultants to scrutinize the finances of the athletic department and a polarizing new online venture, the University of Arizona Global Campus.The university started the program by paying $1 to acquire a for-profit, online-only school called Ashford University in 2020. The deal added tens of thousands of new online students to the university’s rolls" (NYT). | 1. KGUN 2. New York Times 3. U of Arizona 4. U of Arizona | |||||||||||||||||||
96 | University at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) | NY | budget deficit in College of Arts and Sciences; hiring freeze for some faculty positions; cuts in graduate student TA lines; faculty organizing no-confidence vote in Dean, Provost, and President | "The current strategy for the 2024-2025 academic year is to “create new structures and degrees that produce reinvigorated demand for the Arts and Humanities.” Schulze intends to spearhead the plans to “revise majors quickly to address student interest, design new degrees that focus on the future of the labor market and drive experiential learning opportunities.” (UB Spectrum) | "[College of Arts and Sciences] is working with Apex Leader Growth, a consulting firm who has previously worked with the UB Geography and Environmental Sustainability departments, for data collection." | 1. UB Spectrum 2. UB Spectrum | ||||||||||||||||||||
97 | University of Connecticut | CT | proposed 15% cut in administrative and academic programs over next 5 years; $70 million deficit in 2025; | Reduction of state funding. "It’s important for us to prioritize. We can’t do everything or be all things to all people” (Provost D’Alleva). | "These cuts, as currently proposed, will dramatically degrade UConn’s central mission of teaching and research excellence, and its standing as a world-class institution of higher education" (faculty open letter). | "[CT Governor's budget spokesperson] Collibee added that the university has several ways to manage its costs or increase revenue without additional state support. “We encourage UConn and UConn Health to implement strategies that enable them to adapt to the elimination of the federal funds,” Collibee said. (Higher Ed Dive). | 1. Higher Ed Dive 2. UConn faculty open letter | |||||||||||||||||||
98 | University of Houston | TX | 2% budget cuts imposed on units for fiscal year beginning Sep. 2024; salaries frozen; | "Clearly, our investments have been outpacing our revenue and we have been doing so by generating funds from central efficiencies. However, now we need to take a deeper look." (President Khator). | 1. University of Houston 2. Houston Chronicle | |||||||||||||||||||||
99 | University of Houston-Victoria | TX | budget cuts of $3.7 million 2023-24, $6-8 million in 2024-25; hiring freeze; unspecified number of layoffs coming (as of March 2024) | "Much like other universities in the nation, UHV’s budget is enrollment driven, and a multi-year decline in enrollment has forced the university to face some difficult decisions,” [President] Glenn said. | 1. Victoria Advocate | |||||||||||||||||||||
100 | University of Florida | FL | 13 staff layoffs + 15 administrative appointments ended in DEI offices | compliance with Florida state law SB266. | "dismay" (UF Student Government); "As a school that takes so much pride in so many different things, like research and being the first, or being innovative... I feel like it would have made more sense for the university to be the one that [said]: 'No, we're not doing this – this is a right,' but they did the opposite." (Lorena Bacallao, student). | 1. Gainesville Sun 2. University of Florida Administrative Memo 3. NPR |