Dozens of Christian College Faculty Eliminated in Spring Budget Cuts

For evangelical schools, declining enrollment poses a greater challenge than COVID-19.

Five evangelical Christian colleges and universities have eliminated more than 150 faculty and staff positions this spring. While some officials cite COVID-19 as the reason for the cuts, most say the financial reckoning comes in response to the ongoing crisis of higher education and their efforts to prepare for the future.

School officials have confirmed the following cuts:

Bethel University (Minnesota)—36 faculty, 28 staff, two masters programs, 11 majors
Southeastern University (Florida)—32 faculty and two staff
Hardin-Simons University (Texas)—17 faculty, 14 staff, 22 programs and seminary
John Brown University (Arkansas)—25 positions, including at least five faculty
Harding University (Arkansas)—10 faculty and administration and closed North Little Rock location

Other CCCU schools, including Taylor University in Indiana and Charleston Southern University in South Carolina have furloughed employees to save money, but not eliminated positions.

“Institutions are often required to make strategic and necessary changes based on a number of factors,” said Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). “But at the end of the day, these decisions are made to ensure the future financial viability of the institution.”

Eliminating positions may, in some cases, mean laying off faculty or staff. More often, however, administrators make cuts by not filling vacant positions, declining to replace people who have retired or taken another job. Many schools across the country have had “hiring freezes,” and some make the decision permanent after a period of time.

School administrators say the decisions hurt but are necessary. They hope the ...