The College of Wooster continues to attract excellent students, as we have throughout our history. At the same time, we — like our higher education peers — have seen challenges in revenue and enrollment over the past few years due to a lower number of students graduating high school and fewer of them choosing college. Meanwhile, the expenses associated with running a college have grown. As we align our staffing with our student body, Wooster notified 18 full-time staff members and four part-time staff members on Thursday, Feb. 5 that their positions were being eliminated. These roles primarily fell in operational, administrative and external-facing functions, as well as some student services positions.
In all decisions our top priority is to preserve the core of Wooster’s academic experience, including our nationally ranked Independent Study (I.S.) program and our academic programs, our students’ residential experience on our campus, and the programs that allow them to develop in multiple ways outside of the classroom.
This decision was not made lightly. By taking steps now, we are shaping our College to provide an outstanding Wooster education for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this happening?
Across higher education institutions, our context has changed significantly in the past few years, with fewer students graduating from high school and a smaller percentage of them going to college. It is not surprising for us to see smaller classes entering school. In addition, external expenses related to running a college continue to increase. This is why we needed to make hard structural decisions now to enable our success over a multiyear period rather than treat this as a discrete event.
Is the College at risk of closing?
No, quite the opposite. Wooster is very fortunate to have an endowment of approximately $500 million and the support of our alumni. We are taking these actions now to scale and shape our College to weather the current financial and industry realities so that we are here to fulfill our mission for generations of students to come.
Does this action close the deficit?
Not on its own, but it’s an important component of our financial repositioning.
How is the reorganization/staff reduction affecting students’ academic experience?
Our reorganization and reductions were specifically designed to maintain Wooster’s signature Independent Study program, our course offerings, academic degree programs, and access to faculty.
How is the reorganization/staff reduction affecting student services and support?
Whenever possible in this process, we aimed to simplify and modernize our organizational structure and make it easier for students to navigate the deep support system that Wooster provides.
Are more changes planned?
It is possible. Keeping Wooster’s mission as our focus, we are continuing to explore how the College functions work together and where systems and roles can be streamlined without a loss in quality or services.
Why should I send my student to The College of Wooster?
Wooster offers a highly personalized, ambitious educational opportunity with results that speak for themselves. Our graduates go on to become leaders of character and influence in an interdependent global community.
Core to Wooster’s curriculum, every student completes a body of work under a dedicated faculty mentor through our Independent Study program, and our classes are taught by full-time faculty. These are not the norm in higher education, and we operate this way because it fosters a deep level of collaboration that sets our students up for success in their graduate and professional schools and career opportunities.
Will this change my student’s financial aid?
We remain committed to honoring the financial aid packages that have already been awarded and to supporting current and incoming students.
Will you continue to be a residential campus and offer housing for all four years?
Yes, we are committed to doing so and are actively improving our campus infrastructure to support the commitment.
Have budget reductions impacted the sports you offer at Wooster?
No, our sports lineup has not been affected.