MWSU Faculty Cuts (4-30-20)

MWSU Faculty Cuts (4-30-20)

Missouri western will be cutting some programs over the next few years..

But university officials say 80 percent of the programs recommended for phase out enroll an average of less than four students per year... in all..

These cuts will help save $5 million... kq2's chris roush explains how it got to this point for the university... <<even without the coronavirus impacting higher the state aiming to freeze spending, it's struggle for universities like western...(sot, matthew wilson: "i struggled and this was something that was unexpected.

I this, but it's the reality of higher education today.")governors on wednesday approved cutting $5 million yearly budget.... phasing out 20 degree programs ....(sot, matthew about those programs that are going to be maintained or would impact positively about 197 students, so leaving about 322 students affected by the phase outs.")a three-year phase-out of these programs will give students an opportunity to finish their degrees...and with fewer programs, it will also mean some staff and faculty will lose (sot, matthew wilson: "really the immediate impact, we're looking at 30 or less and going forward, we're looking at another 20 individuals, then the other lines are phaseouts or vacant positions.")but how did it get to this point...(sot, matthew think if you would go back to a year ago, the university would anticipate that its freshman class would drop by 10 percent.

I know there wasn't an expectation of overall enrollment would decline by 5 percent.")and there was also an issue of scholarships...(sot, matthew wilson: "we overawarded scholarships to attract students to make tuition more affordable, but really, they were discounts, so i don't think that was something that was predicted or anticipated.") even with these cuts, it's still an uncertain time for missouri western.the state has withheld nearly $2 million in funding because of the coronavirus -- and that's before tackling a nearly $700 million budget deficit for next year.(sot, matthew wilson: "as we look at how long covid-19 is drawn out, there's talk among higher education that even though the state is talking 10 percent, they withhold as deep as 20 percent.")and the gearing up a plan to roll out in the next 12-to-18 with any short falls that may (sot, matthew wilson: "whether it will be enough, is up in the air, we just need to see where our enrollment is in the fall and how much comes from the state, then we will make that determination.") chris roush...kq2 news...>> the university will also be adding six new programs and retaining 60 progams.... (sot) kq2's