Park University cuts faculty and more than a dozen programs in response to enrollment decline

The Parkville, Missouri, university is cutting 16 faculty positions, three master’s programs and about a dozen total majors, certificates, concentrations and minors. The number of students enrolled has dropped by more than 30% over the last few years.
Park University is laying off faculty, cutting programs and closing campuses in an attempt to balance its budget.

In an emailed statement, the private Parkville-based school said it planned to cut 16 faculty positions in areas with low enrollment or where Park believes reducing the number of faculty members won’t harm the program.

It’s continuing to hire faculty in high-demand areas such as information systems and business analysis and cybersecurity.

The university also said it will eliminate three graduate degree programs — master of social work, master of arts in national security studies and master of education in language and literacy — but will allow current students to complete their studies.

Several bachelor’s degree concentrations, a graduate certificate program, an undergraduate certificate program and seven minors will phase out, Brad Biles, director of communications and public relations, wrote in an email.