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The Lancaster college is planning for the layoffs in April, a spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Voice on Thursday, Feb. 13. The school hasn't said how many employees will lose their jobs or what departments will be impacted.
The job cuts come as F&M, with 1,867 undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year, has seen a drop in enrollment over the last decade. The college founded in 1787 had about 2,200 undergrads in the mid-2010s, according to Data USA.
F&M said it's altering its budget to adapt to its current enrollment and "to navigate the evolving higher education landscape."
"Over the past two years, the college has reduced the number of visiting, adjunct, and open tenure-track faculty positions in response to its decreasing student body," the spokesperson said.
In a letter to staff, president Barbara Altmann said the cuts will be a "strategic elimination of some employee positions, rather than relying on attrition," LNP reported.
"We care very much for our people, and eliminating positions is hard on everyone," wrote Altmann. "I am committed to handling the process with great respect and care, and we will do our very best for the employees whose positions will be eliminated."
The staff reductions are part of a broader financial sustainability strategy, which has included trimming non-compensation budgets, consolidating roles, and eliminating vacant positions. F&M is also looking to boost revenue through enrollment initiatives, including increased recruitment efforts, a focus on transfer students, and leasing off-campus housing to the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
F&M's endowment was $472.3 million at the end of June 2024, the college said.
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