Drury University reduces workforce

Drury University last week reduced its workforce, laying off less than 10 employees, according to school officials.

Cutting its workforce by a total of 35 positions, the majority of the reductions came through position eliminations, retirements, consolidations and vacant jobs, according to a statement from Drury President David Manuel.

Manuel pointed to declining enrollment at the private university. He said since a record total head count of 5,625 students was reached in 2010, attendance has declined at an average of 6 percent per year.

"Drury could not remain at current staffing levels given that reduction in enrollment," Manuel said in the statement. "Drury has a great deal of sympathy for the members of the Drury community who have been impacted by these workforce reductions.

"However, to maintain the quality of the educational experience for students, control tuition costs and position the university for long-term health, difficult decisions had to be made."

During Springfield Business Journal's recent 12 People You Need to Know interview this month, Manuel said declining enrollment can be tied to the improving economy.

"That's part of the yin and the yang of higher ed, unfortunately," Manuel said during the Oct. 15 interview. "As economic conditions improve, as people are more gainfully employed, the less likely that they will return to school for a degree. On the other hand, when there's a downturn, more people go back to school to try to get new skills and attain new professional levels. That's not uncommon, and we will continue to see that."

During the interview, Manuel said attendance is roughly 4,600 at the university this semester, down about 600 students from last fall.