Xavier University in New Orleans has announced a salary and hiring freeze and some layoffs of non-faculty employees in an effort to reduce a projected $5 million deficit. The university also stated that it would reduce contributions to employee health insurance premiums by 10 percent. University offices will be closed from December 24 to January 2 to save on utilities and other costs.
Xavier is faced with a deficit due to a drop in enrollments of 6.5 percent for the fall semester. The university stated that non-tenured faculty may be let go after the spring semester and some academic programs may be consolidated to save administrative costs.
President Norman Francis stated in an interview with the student newspaper that the sluggish economy and changes in eligibility for student loans were factors in the decrease in enrollments. He estimated that the change in loan eligibility alone resulted in a loss of 100 students.
