JWU plans 3 percent workforce cut

PROVIDENCE – Johnson & Wales University on Thursday announced it will reduce its total workforce of 2,400 by approximately 3 percent, affecting about 72 employees across the school’s four campuses.

Lisa Pelosi, the university’s vice president of communications and government relations, released a statement Thursday afternoon citing “enrollment pressures” that have prompted changes to JWU’s personnel and operations.

“A smaller pool of high school graduates seeking postsecondary education, the affordability of public versus private education and increased competition for specialty academic programs – such as culinary – are some of the factors that have impacted JWU and other colleges and universities nationwide,” said Pelosi. She did not say how many of the jobs to be eliminated are on the Providence campus.

Besides Providence, JWU operates campuses in Denver, North Miami, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C.

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Pelosi said JWU will continue to broaden its portfolio of academic programs to attract more students in disciplines highly in demand, such as health and wellness, nutrition and dietetics, and engineering, and has also expanded its online offerings.

“Our focus on our academic mission is paramount,” Pelosi said. “We are confident that these actions will strengthen the university in the long term.”

JWU spokesperson Ryan Crowley said in a statement that the university “will continue to strategically fill positions critical to our mission” but declined to specify the exact number of employees to be affected or provide further details.

Kaylen Auer is a PBN contributing writer.