DE PERE, Wis. — As St. Norbert College begins its spring break, dozens of faculty members are learning they’re being terminated next month.
The college is also axing several programs.
Some students enrolled at St. Norbert said these faculty and program cuts are disheartening, and experts said these types of cuts at some colleges could be the norm for the foreseeable future.
Meaghan Dutton is a senior majoring in geology. She learned her program is one of several being eliminated at St. Norbert College.
“It’s really disappointing, because a huge part of earth science, and just the sciences in general, is hands on research experiences and amazing faculty members to really lead labs and lectures for everyone,” Dutton said.
St. Norbert announced last week it is discontinuing 15 majors range from the arts to theology. Dutton said this is shocking because her sister majored in theology.
“She’s gotten into near Ivy League schools for graduate school, and that’s just one graduate of our theology program. Every single graduate will go on to do amazing things, and knowing that program is cut is just so disappointing,” Dutton said.
The college is also cutting 27 faculty positions. 21 of the cuts will happen by the end of this semester and six more next year.
This means that of the 106 faculty total, 66 will remain with 13 positions left vacant.
Eric Fulcomer is the President of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (WAICU). He said these cuts signal a shift in higher education.
“They are market driven. The resources of revenue for colleges like ours are primarily either philanthropy or tuition. And so, tuition dollars mean that students are interested in the program are willing to pay for it,” Fulcomer said.
Fulcomer said there are fewer high school graduates, so he expects faculty and program cuts to continue at colleges and universities.
“So, as enrollments go down, or enrollments change, if students are more interested in business majors than they are, maybe liberal arts, or, you know, whatever the case may be, there will have to be adjustments. I think that unfortunately, we are in a period of time when colleges will continue to have to make difficult decisions,” Fulcomer said.
St. Norbert has been around since 1898, so Dutton said she thinks the college will survive this challenge, but she said she is worried about the college’s next chapter.
“I think the look in the future will be vastly different, while it still will be a wonderful community to be part of. I just don’t think it will be the community that we all know and love,” Dutton said.
This is St. Norbert College’s third round of cuts since Sept. 2023.
Regarding the faculty and program cuts, St. Norbert College President Laurie M. Joyner provided this statement:
“These decisions, though difficult, set us on a path to emerge stronger from this transitional period. Resilience is a testament to our Norbertine DNA, and the loyalty we have repeatedly witnessed during the past 18 months reflects the radical gratitude we all have for this remarkable community.”
