PHOTO: Courtesy of SNC
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In the wake of town hall meetings about expected faculty and program cuts, St. Norbert College issued a reply this week to questions raised at those sessions.
The college has already made two rounds of layoffs in the wake of enrollment dropping by about 500 students in recent years. Now, it is in a process called “retrenchment,” in which it may cut academic programs and layoff faculty. The moves have drawn criticism from some students, parents, alumni and others.
The three-page document was released this week, and reiterates the college’s financial situation.
“Significantly reducing the operating budget to align revenues and expenses is necessary to ensure a SNC education remains affordable to our students and families. It is also required for the long-term financial viability of St. Norbert College,” the unsigned document states. “The College has adjusted the budget by nearly $12M and is currently addressing a projected $7 million deficit for FY26 through further strategic adjustments.”
“Much attention focuses on the efforts to reduce expenses to address pre-existing and under-reported financial challenges and to invest in new programs and innovative partnerships to drive enrollment and revenue. But most accurately, everything we are doing is to prioritize accessibility, affordability, and accountability for the student experience emphasizing academic excellence, transformative experiences, and positive student outcomes. It’s about giving students greater access to majors they want and a broad liberal arts foundation through the core curriculum (including philosophy and theology courses). It’s about helping the students on our campus today discover their passion and discern their purpose. And it’s about advancing this great College to ensure that the same opportunities are available for their children and their children’s children,” it states.
With religious studies and philosophy among the majors targeted for elimination, some questioned the college’s commitment to being a Catholic, liberal arts school.
“Our students will continue to engage in a broad-based education with courses spanning the humanities, arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. They will study innovative programs that align with their interests and graduate with skills that prepare them for success,” it states. “SNC will continue offering a broad-based core curriculum true to its three core traditions: Catholic, Norbertine, and liberal arts. SNC will continue offering a broad range of majors. No final decisions about program elimination have been made at this time.”
The new business building, under construction on the site of the former Abbot Pennings High School is also addressed.
“The new Donald & Patricia Schneider Family Hall, is funded entirely through restricted donor gifts, not tuition dollars or operational funds,” it states.
The college has a dedicated section of its website, called Preserving the Legacy, which has more about the financial situation.
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