CLAYTON 鈥 Fontbonne University will drop 21 academic programs and eliminate 19 faculty positions among other budget cuts totaling more than $2 million by 2025, officials announced Thursday.
The 鈥 comes as the private Catholic institution experienced a 60% loss in enrollment and more than $14 million decline in revenue over the past decade.
The cuts total less than half of the university鈥檚 $5.2 million deficit and include the elimination of the art, religious studies and health care management programs. The college also is pausing new enrollment in its renowned deaf education program.
Fontbonne President Nancy Blattner said in a statement that the college had to make 鈥渄ifficult decisions to ensure its long-term sustainability.鈥
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鈥淲hile these adjustments are regrettable,鈥 Blattner said, 鈥淚 acknowledge the dedication and contributions of the faculty and staff members impacted by these changes. I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to serving Fontbonne students.鈥
Earlier this week, Fontbonne announced that Quinton Clay, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, resigned from his position. An email to media Thursday said that administrators would not grant any interviews.
Universities across the country are facing more competition as there are fewer college-aged students and a smaller percentage are going to college. That demographic cliff has widened the gulf between small, struggling colleges and major established universities. Many colleges, like Fontbonne and nearby Webster University, have faced years of declining enrollment and revenue.
Just 874 students, including 650 undergraduates, are enrolled at Fontbonne this fall, down from roughly 2,000 students a decade ago.
The campus was quiet Thursday afternoon in a drizzling rain. Two freshmen said they were stunned by the news and planned to transfer to other universities. One of the students, who requested anonymity out of concern for her on-campus job, said she realized her major was being cut after none of the required classes showed up in the spring course catalog.
鈥淲hen I came to tour last year, they weren鈥檛 very forthcoming about the reality of being a student here,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 wish I had done more research before I came here because I had no idea.鈥
Fontbonne said in a statement that no student will be 鈥渟uddenly鈥 dropped from their program, and many affected students will be able to complete their degrees at Fontbonne. Students will be allowed to take more classes, including summer classes, without additional tuition charges. No financial aid will be impacted, according to the plan.
The academic programs art, data science, early childhood special education, game development, global studies, health care management, religious studies and social work.
All programs will continue through at least the spring 2024 semester. The art department will shutter after spring of 2025.
The 19 faculty members who will be laid off teach in the art, biological and behavioral sciences, business, consumer sciences, criminal justice, deaf education, early childhood, humanities, nursing, social work, speech-language pathology and education departments.
The university also eliminated two full-time and four part-time staff positions, including the academic dean. Campus nurse services will be eliminated at the end of the school year. Nine open positions will remain unfilled, including the vice president for advancement and the special advisor for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Graduate art students M.V. Laughlin and Abby Platte said Fontbonne鈥檚 decision leaves many students stranded: They鈥檒l either have to cram in the rest of their five-year program before 2025 or start over at a new university as their credits won鈥檛 transfer. Neither option is ideal, they said, because they鈥檒l leave with a degree that is not what was promised and with skills that are not fully mastered.
鈥淚n the field of art, your portfolio is your proof. That鈥檚 how you get jobs,鈥 said Laughlin. Now, with the accelerated timeline, 鈥測our portfolio is going to be worthless.鈥
Both students said they chose Fontbonne because of its reputation, the faculty and focus on traditional art. The university also offered better flexibility for Platte, who鈥檚 a single mother. She had hoped to start an artist residency for people with disabilities.
鈥淭o build that ... Fontbonne was the best bet for that,鈥 Platte said.
The students said they want to raise money from the art community to keep their program, but that the university has yet to share how much funding they鈥檇 need to do so.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty frustrated about the administration not having transparency with the finances,鈥 Laughlin said. 鈥淚 mean, they鈥檝e had control of the finances, and this is where it鈥檚 led us.鈥
In addition to the academic programs and faculty and staff positions, the university will also drop the eSports program, reduce the student activities budget and pause sabbaticals for the next year among other cuts.
At an all-campus meeting earlier this fall, Fontbonne staff asked for improved accountability, communication and collaboration, according to an email sent Thursday to staff from Blattner, the university president.
鈥淢embers of the Executive Leadership Team realize that the preparation and implementation of this retrenchment plan have caused members of our campus community, including our faculty, staff and students, to be disappointed, frustrated and angry,鈥 she wrote. 鈥淲e respect those sentiments and share them, and we sincerely wish that there was another way forward for Fontbonne other than a reduction in programs and personnel.鈥澛
Originally posted at 1:50 p.m. Thursday.