Columbia College lays off 49 across nation

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia College is laying off 25 employees at its local campus.

The college said in a news release Tuesday that the 25 layoffs are among 49 across the college's 36 campuses nationwide.

“These decisions were not made lightly,” President Scott Dalrymple said in the release. “But nationwide enrollment trends are down, particularly among adult students. In a strong economy, fewer people go back to school.”

The college said it cut other expenses before cutting staff. Severance packages have been offered to the laid-off employees, the college said.

Dalrymple said the college is in an "enviable" financial position overall but college leaders "must be good stewards of our resources to ensure we're here for another 169 years."