Baldwin Wallace University is undergoing a significant restructuring process, resulting in the elimination of multiple majors and a reduction in faculty and staff. Upon review, the Berea-based university has decided to cut ten majors, including Music History, Jazz, Visual/Studio Art, Communication Studies, Film Studies, Public Relations, Public Health, Master of Public Health, Digital Marketing-to-MBA graduate program, and Leadership in Higher Education MAEd, as reported by WKYC.
The university has confirmed that the layoffs will affect 18 faculty members, eight staff members, and two executives, plus 36 faculty and staff who took voluntary early retirement last month. According to FOX8, these changes are part of an administrative reorganization approved by the Board of Trustees. Despite the reduction in personnel, the university promises to honor the current contracts of the affected full-time faculty members through next July.
Cleveland19 reports that the university plans to consolidate its academic departments from 28 to 19 and reduce the number of deans to one in an effort to streamline operations and focus on inclusivity and excellence. This extensive restructuring aims to keep the school competitive by ensuring a balanced budget and providing room for investment in key areas of education.
"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," stated Greg Flanik, VP of Operations, in a statement obtained by WKYC. Moreover, Baldwin Wallace says their plans should result in a roughly $13.5M reduction in the operating budget, or about 13% from the fiscal year 2023-24, in the plummeting budget numbers's anticipated wake.
Despite the impending layoffs and major eliminations, Baldwin Wallace maintains a solid academic reputation, with recent achievements including an increase in full-time undergraduate enrollment and a high placement rate for graduate careers. The school's efforts have earned it a Top Ten ranking among the Best Midwest Regional Schools by U.S. News & World Report. BW reports that 87% of its enrolled students will not be impacted by the cuts to majors, as detailed by Cleveland19. Amid the structural changes, the school remains searching for a new president following Bob Helmer's retirement in June.
