Ottawa U layoffs hit 18 in bid to balance budget, university says - DOUG CARDER, Herald

Ottawa University acknowledged today it eliminated, or reduced to half-time, 18 positions across a number of university-wide functions to ensure a balanced budget in new fiscal year, which begins Tuesday. Of the affected positions, most are in staff support areas, and 14 of the personnel were based at OU’s residential campus, 1001 S. Cedar St., Ottawa, according to an OU news release. The university’s revenues from its Adult, Professional and Online units have been flat to declining this year, with the notable exception of OU-Kansas City, which saw a sizable increase, the release said. As has been the case for many higher educational institutions in the past two years, adult program enrollments have been a challenge due to a number of competitive, economic and regulatory factors, university officials said. http://ottawaherald.com/news/062614oulayoffs