Park University is laying off faculty, cutting programs and closing campuses to remedy budget needs.

The school said in an emailed statement in November that it planned to cut 16 faculty positions in departments where enrollment numbers are low or where administrators believe reducing faculty numbers won’t reduce the quality of the program.

The university added that 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. Current students in these programs have been told that they can complete their studies.

Brad Biles, director of communications and public relations, told Kansas City Beacon that several bachelor’s degree concentrations, a graduate certificate program, an undergraduate certificate program and seven minors will phase out.

Biles had declined to say which of its campuses are closing as the university is still working to inform students at those campuses. Biles said that none of the Kansas City-area campuses are slated to close, including the main campus in Parkville and those in Lenexa, Independence and Kansas City.

In its statement, Park University said the changes are due to nationwide drops in enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic and to students choosing to attend other universities among competition grow to reach prospective students.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development documented that Park’s enrollment has declined more than 40 percent between fall 2018 and fall 2023.

In fall 2020, the university had about 10,000 students. However in fall 2023, that number fell to around 6,400 students.

These changes will reverberate on all the University’s campuses as they are implemented and students wonder what will be cut next if this trend continues.