University of Montana president Royce Engstrom says the school will lay off 27 employees by July. In a letter to colleagues today Engstrom said that, in total, 192 full-time positions are being eliminated. Besides layoffs, the cuts will come by attrition, reducing adjunct positions and not renewing contracts.
Engstrom declined to provide details on the layoffs "out of respect for the privacy of the impacted individuals."
The university is cutting costs after declining enrollment led to budget shortfalls. Engstrom’s letter says the job cuts will still leave the university $4.5 million short of the savings it needs to balance its 2017 budget.
News of the layoffs comes days after the state Board of Regents approved 2 percent pay raises for many university system coaches and administrators, including Engstrom.