Baldwin Wallace University announces layoffs, elimination of academic programs in restructuring

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Following a seven-month review of Baldwin Wallace University, 64 positions (both voluntary and layoffs), and 10 academic programs will be eliminated, saving the University millions. These are the second cuts to majors and staff in the last year for the University.

According to the release sent out by the school on October 1, the restructuring was “designed to streamline operations, enhance student experiences and strengthen BW’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence. These changes allow the University to stay competitive within a balanced budget and provide for investment in key areas”.

The positions to be eliminated are:

Executive Level: 2 layoffs.
Staff: 8 layoffs, plus 17 who took a voluntary separation agreement offered in the past month.
Faculty: 18 layoffs, plus 19 who took a voluntary separation agreement offered in the past month. In addition, retirements and other resignations bring the total to 49 faculty reductions. BW’s total faculty population will be 164, down from 213 at the start of this semester.

The academic programs to be eliminated all require a “separate teach-out schedule” and will stop taking students. BW says they were chosen based on the “lowest potential impact on students”.

The programs to be eliminated are:

Music History
Jazz
Visual/Studio Art
Communication Studies
Film Studies
Public Relations
Public Health
Master of Public Health
Digital Marketing-to-MBA graduate program
Leadership in Higher Education

BW says that 87% of students will not be impacted by the cuts to majors.

The restructuring reduces expenses by $6M immediately, with a future savings of 13% from the 2023-2024 budget.

BW also bolstered gains in many key categories:

Increase in full-time undergraduate enrollment for the last three fall semesters
Graduate career placement is at 96%
Top Ten among Best Midwest Regional Schools by US News Rankings