Finance Concerns Loom Over 2025 Academic Year
In an email from Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken on July 24, concerns were raised regarding the financial future of EU, particularly in reference to the current political climate towards education and the impending “demographic cliff.”
In the email, VanAken said “higher education is facing significant headwinds with both the demographic and funding declines.”
Under the Trump administration, the Department of Education has delayed, reduced and canceled grants for colleges and universities across the nation. Education Week reported the administration had halted $6.8 billion in federal funding for education, though later many of these funds were “unfrozen” and distributed to states.
The uncertainty of federal education funding compounds what educators and experts are calling the “demographic cliff,” shorthand for a significant decrease in enrollment due to impacts from the 2008 recession.
VanAken elaborated in the email, “while EU has seen budget surpluses for the past nine years, we are not immune to the changes coming in higher ed and the reductions in funding at the state and federal level.”
Following this email was an all-staff Zoom meeting on July 29 where VanAken addressed some of the concerns he raised via email. VanAken was adamant that EU has the capability to weather upcoming financial difficulties, though confirmed nine positions were eliminated.
“This is not a crisis,” said VanAken. “It could become a crisis if we don’t take care of it.”
VanAken said there are no plans to remove any additional staff positions at this time. None of the positions eliminated were teaching faculty.
This statement mirrors how VanAken closed his July 24 email: “I remain energized and enthusiastic about Elmhurst’s future, and our strong position relative to our competitors.”
Amy Lyn McDonald, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, provided The Leader a comment following the meeting.
“Elmhurst, as an institution, is poised to fare very well in the coming years as a direct result of the efforts our President, Troy, has done on our behalf with regard to fundraising for the institution at large,” said McDonald.
The Leader was able to speak with VanAken during their “Day Out with Troy” event and asked for a comment on the matter.
“Some people get nervous about that [financial uncertainty]. They’re nervous because change is coming, but I’m trying to be clear to people that you don’t need to be looking over your shoulder,” said VanAken. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen a year or two down the road but right now I think our budget’s okay.”
