MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A little more than a year after Christian Brothers University (CBU) announced $4 million in campus-wide budget cuts, college leaders said 20 more non-faculty positions are being cut.
CBU officials said the latest cuts are expected to position the school to come out of finance-related probation by winter 2025.
In the fall of 2023, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) placed CBU on probation for financial reasons. The school blamed a decline in enrollment and credit hours for undergraduates, as well as fewer students living on campus and related revenue.
CBU leaders said at that time they expected a $5 to $7 million projected deficit by the end of 2024, and the school would begin “cost-cutting moves” aimed at cutting $4 million from the operating budget.
At the end of October 2023, CBU said nine full-time positions were being eliminated – three of those Vice Presidents – and other positions streamlined in their focuses.
In December 2023, CBU announced several programs would close at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, including Chemistry, Engineering Physics, English, Political Studies, Masters of Education, and more. CBU said those cuts impacted about 15 undergraduates out of 920 in the 2024-2025 academic year.
With those program cuts, CBU leaders said 28 faculty positions were eliminated – three of which were unfilled at the time, and eight in which the faculty had already announced their departure or the position was temporary. Nine of the positions were tenured and wight non-tenured.
In the most recent update, CBU officials announced the latest round of cuts – 20 non-faculty positions, 12 of which are currently unfilled. School leaders also said Executives and Vice Presidents took a reduction of 5% in salary, and many vendor contacts were reduced or eliminated.
The employer-sponsored 403(b) match will change from an automatic monthly distribution to an annual performance-based contribution.
“Over the past year, we have increased the number of first-year students, significantly boosted fundraising and reduced spending,” said Ron Brandon, EVP & CFO. “Like many colleges, universities and organizations facing post-COVID budget woes at that time, we had two choices: decrease expenses or increase revenue.”
CBU leaders said Brother Chris Englert, who was named CBU president in April 2024, has helped with alumni donations and attracting support from other charitable partners.
“Still, we must continue on this trajectory to be fully compliant, so we’re working cross-functionally to invest in the right student resources and programs,” said Englert.
