UD Responds to Enrollment Shifts with Strategic Changes
Olivia Gabel | Contributing Writer
It’s a quiet weekday afternoon at the University of Dayton, and the campus feels a bit different. The usual buzz is subdued, with fewer students milling around, and walkways a bit clearer. Even Kennedy Union, typically bustling with activity, has noticeably shorter lines. For the first time in years, Founder’s Hall sits empty – a subtle but telling sign of a new reality.
It’s not drastic. But it’s noticeable.
These empty seats and clearer hallways are more than just a shift in atmosphere – they reflect the tough decision the University of Dayton has made. In the fall of 2024, President Eric Spina made a decision in response to the changing higher education environment. Growing skepticism regarding the value of a college education, combined with the current economic climate, has strained the average family’s ability to afford private tuition and feel comfortable doing so.
In response to these pressures, UD has planned a set of strategic decisions to navigate these changing times and secure its financial future.
Beginning with the curriculum, the university has chosen to make changes regarding student opportunities and course requirements. There are cuts to underperforming graduate programs. However, the university has taken a sunset approach, allowing students who are currently enrolled to complete their degree. There also have been positive changes–fewer CAP requirements, fewer credit requirements for high-credit majors and more transfer credits accepted. These changes will be implemented in the 2025-26 academic year.
The enrollment team responsible for said changes has worked to maintain clear communication of alterations for students and families, utilizing the student government and student news outlets.
To complement the reduction in academic requirements, the university has made cuts to its faculty. As of March 15, UD made the difficult decision to eliminate 45 professional faculty and 20 staff positions. However, the university states that these numbers were minimized to the level they anticipate for 2025-2026 enrollment–which should maintain the current student-faculty ratio.
While these reductions are part of an overall strategy to streamline operations and address financial constraints, they also raise questions about the potential impact on educational quality and student services. University officials quickly emphasize that these changes are necessary to ensure the institution’s long-term viability.
“We are working to maintain an optimally sized undergraduate population,” said Casey Gill, the vice president of student development and chief student experience officer. “We will work on growing enrollments in programs with high student demand and creating new majors that respond to demand and will keep UD competitive.”
Despite the budget cuts and faculty reductions, Gill said the university’s commitment to fostering a relationship-rich community remains central to its mission.
“This will enable all undergraduates to feel our strong, community-focused environment and take advantage of highly experiential curricular and co-curricular opportunities, true to our mission and academic tradition of developing the whole person.”
For more information about university changes, visit udayton.edu.
These changes reflect the strategic effort by the University of Dayton to adapt to the changing education environment – a balancing act between transformation and tradition. As these adjustments take effect, their impact on student experience, academic quality, and institutional sustainability will become clearer in the coming years.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Olivia Gabel produced this article as part of CMM 330: Media Writing, a course offered through the Department of Communication at the University of Dayton. In this class, students develop writing skills for journalism and public relations across media platforms, emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and effective information gathering. This story, featured in Flyer News, explores the University of Dayton’s recent enrollment and faculty changes, shedding light on how the institution is adapting to broader shifts in higher education.