News Summary
The University of New Orleans is experiencing a significant enrollment drop, with numbers falling to approximately 4,100, leading to budget cuts and potential faculty layoffs. The administration has announced plans to reduce adjunct faculty and possibly eliminate courses amid an $85.5 million deficit. As enrollment continues to decline, concerns arise over class cancellations and larger class sizes, while discussions about strategic changes, including a potential return to the LSU system, are underway.
New Orleans Faces Enrollment Crisis at University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans (UNO) is grappling with a significant enrollment crisis as the number of students has plummeted to approximately 4,100, a stark decline of around 2,000 from the previous fall semester. This sharp decrease has prompted university leaders to announce plans to cut down the number of adjunct faculty members and eliminate various courses just weeks before the fall semester is set to begin.
In what has been characterized by the United Campus Workers union as a “large-scale firing,” the reduction of adjunct faculty is part of a broader effort to cope with the financial strain facing the university. In light of these cuts, full-time professors will be required to take on additional classes to cover the gaps left by departing adjunct staff. There are growing concerns that under-enrolled classes may be cancelled entirely as university officials conduct assessments to gauge enrollment figures.
These impending changes are expected to result in last-minute class cancellations, larger classroom sizes, and the potential loss of favored faculty members. The administration has indicated that UNO is facing substantial budgetary challenges, including a significant deficit of $85.5 million, a figure that was initially calculated based on anticipated stable enrollment rates.
Even with a hopeful rebound in student enrollment, the university is projected to face an additional shortfall of $1.5 million. In response to the crisis, the union has called for the reallocation of funds from non-academic sectors, such as athletics, to help preserve the positions of part-time faculty members. There are currently 193 adjunct faculty members, primarily concentrated in the College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Human Development, an area expected to be hit hardest by these budget cuts.
The fall enrollment figures reveal that the university is currently operating at just 64% of the expected budgeted numbers. Officials remain skeptical about the possibility of a late surge in enrollments, as students are now required to either pay fees or establish a payment plan before attending classes. This policy has further hindered enrollment, especially among those who have outstanding financial obligations.
Navigating these financial difficulties has been complicated by negative media coverage that has impacted prospective students’ confidence in UNO, according to university representatives. Faculty members are preparing to handle four classes per semester, while the administration is poised to cancel any classes that fail to meet minimum enrollment thresholds.
Additionally, the university faces the challenge of having too many low-demand master’s programs, leading to discussions about the potential phasing out of certain offerings. Enrollment numbers have steadily declined since peaking at nearly 17,000 students before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As part of measures aimed at consolidating the budget, UNO has implemented layoffs, furloughs, and a hiring freeze over the past year.
The prospect of moving UNO back into the LSU system has emerged as a potential strategy to bolster enrollment figures, leading to ongoing discussions concerning the logistics of such a transition. Furthermore, UNO’s operational costs have been aggravated by a considerable backlog of deferred maintenance and contractual obligations, amounting to over $2 billion, thereby exacerbating the institution’s financial woes.
A recent feasibility study concluded that the strategic financial and governance changes necessary for UNO to improve are critical, highlighting that previous attempts to stabilize the institution have not produced the desired outcomes. UNO now stands at a crossroads, tasked with confronting the challenges of declining enrollment, budget deficits, and the restructuring of its academic offerings in a bid to navigate through this crisis.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
University of New Orleans Faces Major Layoffs Amid Budget Shortfall
University of New Orleans Faces Budget Deficit
Proposed Transfer of UNO to LSU System Raises Concerns
Louisiana Legislators Propose Transfer of UNO to LSU System
Louisiana Legislature Transfers University of New Orleans to LSU System
University of New Orleans Joins LSU System After Approval
Louisiana Legislators Approve UNO Transfer to LSU System
University of New Orleans Confronts Serious Financial Crisis
Louisiana Lawmakers Push for Transfer of University of New Orleans
Louisiana Legislators Push for UNO to Rejoin LSU System
Additional Resources
- NOLA: UNO Cut Adjunct Professors & Courses
- La Illuminator: Board of Regents Recommends Moving UNO Back to LSU System
- Higher Ed Dive: UNO Merger to Rejoin LSU System
- WDSU: UNO President Talks Furloughs & Layoffs
- NOLA: UNO’s Budget Deficit and Layoffs
- Wikipedia: University of New Orleans
- Google Search: University of New Orleans Enrollment Crisis
- Google Scholar: University of New Orleans Budget Deficit
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans
- Google News: University of New Orleans
