Wittenberg University cuts majors and jobs to balance budget

Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio, is facing significant financial challenges, resulting in the elimination of five academic majors and over 60 positions. The affected majors include East Asian studies, German, music, music education, and Spanish, along with a minor in Chinese, all set to be cut by the end of the 2024-25 academic year. The university's decision comes after reporting a $13.7 million operating deficit for the fiscal year ending June 2023, which is more than double the previous year's loss. Additionally, Wittenberg carries $38.2 million in debt from bonds issued in 2016, alongside declining tuition revenue and rising operating expenses. In an effort to address these financial issues, the university has also suspended declarations for international business and international studies programs while they undergo re-evaluation. The cuts were communicated to students and staff in a letter, which also mentioned that around 40 employees would lose their jobs, although some current staff may be reassigned to open positions. Wittenberg's president, Michael Frandsen, assured that students whose majors are being eliminated will have options to complete their degrees through partner institutions. This provision is expected to be finalized before Fall Break. The announcement of cuts has led to unrest among students and faculty, with concerns raised about the impact on world languages and cross-cultural communication expertise. The decision-making process for these cuts has been criticized for its lack of transparency, with faculty members expressing dissatisfaction with how the cuts were determined. The university's financial struggles and the recent violent threats against the campus have compounded the challenges faced by the institution, leading to a temporary shift to remote learning.