Expressing grave concerns about a steep enrollment decline, University of New Orleans leaders said Thursday they will slash the number of adjunct faculty members and eliminate some courses with weeks to go before the fall semester begins.
As of mid-July, enrollment was down to about 4,100 students, some 2,000 fewer than last fall, officials said in an email to faculty explaining the latest cuts.
As the university slashes funding for adjunct faculty, full-time professors are being told to take on more classes and warned that under-enrolled courses could be cut entirely. The cuts amount to a “large-scale firing” of adjunct professors, said the United Campus Workers, a union that represents UNO faculty, staff and student workers…