Park University in Missouri lays off faculty, cuts programs amid sharp enrollment drop

PARKVILLE, Mo. (AP) — The private Park University in Missouri is laying off faculty, cutting programs and closing campuses after a sharp drop in enrollment that echoes what is happening nationally. The school is based in suburban Kansas City. It said it planned to cut 16 faculty positions, mostly in low enrollment areas. The university also said it will eliminate three graduate degree programs and about a dozen total majors, certificates, concentrations and minors. The cuts come after Park’s enrollment dropped more than 30% from 11,319 total students in fall 2019 to 7,483 in fall 2022.