MSSU blames 31 job cuts on declining student numbers
Number represents 6 percent of total employees . . .
Missouri Southern’s continued trend of declining student numbers has resulted in major job cuts.
This week, MSSU publicly announced the cutting of 31 staff and non-tenured faculty positions, approximately 6 percent of employees.
Missouri Southern State University has seen a trend of declining enrollment for several years.
In 2021, MSSU reported a fall enrollment of 4,358. That represented nearly a 14 percent drop compared to the previous year. At one time, the university had 6,000 students.
Southern’s loss of students for fall 2021 was especially precipitous, over twice the drop at nearby Pittsburg State University and Crowder College.
Still, the university seemed to be gearing up for increased student numbers. Only last November, the university showed off a brand new dorm called Lion Village. The four story, 94,000 foot complex has the capacity to hold over 300 students.
A statement released by Missouri Southern this week said, “Due to the decrease in enrollment, the need arose to significantly reduce future university expenses as the fiscal year 2023 budget is developed.
“Supporting faculty and staff impacted in the reduction is of utmost importance,” the University’s statement said.
“Initiatives developed to ease this transition include continued compensation and insurance (through the end of faculty contracts, and through June 30 for staff.”
“Budget development steps include implementing ideas that came from a comprehensive campus survey with revenue producing and budget reduction ideas; reorganization of academic colleges from four to three; administrative reductions; a voluntary retirement incentive program; and decisions to not fill some open positions,” a university statement said.
Previously, MSSU had a College of Arts & Sciences; College of Business; College of Education; and a College of Health Sciences.
These have been reorganized to include the following:
* College of Health, Life Sciences and Education;
* College of Arts and Sciences; and a College of Business,
* Communication and Technology
MSSU’s statement said it would “continue tuition waivers for employees and dependents for a few years, career counseling and personal counseling.”
Officials from MSSU say they hope several new strategic initiatives and a student retention effort will help stem further student losses.