BEREA, Ohio — For the third time in 2024, Baldwin Wallace University (BW) has announced a series of cutbacks as it seeks to eliminate millions in debt.
In its "transformational reorganization" plan released on Tuesday, the Berea-based university says it will be laying off 18 faculty members, eight staff members, and two executives. The layoffs are in addition to the 36 faculty and staff members who took a voluntary early retirement option last month.
BW noted that the contracts of the 18 affected full-time faculty members "will be honored through next July."
Counting "retirements and other resignations," Baldwin Wallace says its total faculty population will be 164, down from 213 at the start of this semester.
In addition to staff reductions, BW will eliminate the following programs:
- Music History
- Jazz
- Visual/Studio Art
- Communication Studies
- Film Studies
- Public Relations
- Public Health
- Master of Public Health
- Digital Marketing-to-MBA graduate program
- Leadership in Higher Education MAEd
"Each program requires a separate teach-out schedule for all currently enrolled students and will no longer accept new students," BW explained.
Baldwin Wallace first rolled out a "cost-effective plan" in late January with the goal to eliminate a $20 million deficit. Part of that plan included the elimination of "approximately 20 full- and part-time non-tenured faculty positions and the teach-out of 9 academic programs."
According to its release, "once BW realizes the full impact of the changes being made, the University's operating budget will be reduced by approximately $13.5M or approximately 13% from fiscal year 2023-24."
“After we implemented cost-cutting measures to address a projected shortfall in February, a transformation work group began to engage our campus in a rigorous review to create an even stronger BW,” said Greg Flanik, VP of Operations. “The goal was clear, but the actual work of achieving the goal was challenging. The plan that ultimately emerged involves structural changes that create a confident vision for BW’s future.”
Other changes as part of BW's "holistic restructuring" includes reducing academic departments from 28 to 19, eliminating all but one dean at the university, and eliminating the position of "Chief Diversity Officer" in favor of making diversity and inclusivity "a collaborative effort across the BW community rather than led by a single office."
Amid the cutbacks and restructuring, Baldwin Wallace is still searching for a new president to replace Bob Helmer, who retired in June.
"This institution is setting the table for our next president to lead us successfully into our next extraordinary chapter," said Dr. Thomas Sutton, BW's acting president and interim provost. "This work demonstrates the strength, creativity and resilience our next president will find in the BW community."