UPDATE (May 25, 2025):
Just a day after announcing budget cuts would eliminate 45 jobs, Purdue University Fort Wayne said that the school’s baseball and softball programs would also be eliminated.
56 student athletes competed in the NCAA Division 1 programs. PFW says that the elimination of the programs does not affect the university’s NCAA Division 1 status.
PFW said in a release on Friday that the decision is expected to save $1 million a year.
The following wass released:
Purdue University Fort Wayne announced on Friday the discontinuation of its baseball and softball programs, effective immediately. The decision, which includes an expected cost savings of upwards of $1 million, is directly related to $6 million in budget cuts the university announced Thursday.
Purdue Fort Wayne remains fully committed to competing at the highest level of NCAA Division I athletics as a member of Horizon League and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. This decision is rooted in the responsibility to maintain a stable, equitable, and high-quality athletics environment for all PFW student-athletes.
Senior leaders from the university and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are already working to assist those individuals who have been affected by the discontinuation of the two programs.
“This is one of the saddest days in my 25 years as a Mastodon,” Athletic Director Kelley Hartley Hutton said. “We know this news will upset our student-athletes, alumni and fans. It was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition.”
All student-athlete scholarships will be honored and support will be provided to student-athletes wishing to transfer. Those who choose to transfer will be eligible immediately at their next institution. Mental health resources are also being made available to all student-athletes.
“I have the utmost respect for Head Baseball Coach Doug Schreiber, Head Softball Coach Amber Bowman, and their student-athletes,” Hartley Hutton said. “They have consistently over-performed their given resources, facilities, and scholarship levels. We have not made the adequate investments into facilities and resources over the life of these programs, and when considering the current financial climate, it was determined that there was no feasible path to address those needs.”
Budget challenges across the university, in combination with a turbulent NCAA landscape, led to the need for an honest assessment of the long-term viability of multiple programs, Hartley Hutton said. The decision to eliminate baseball and softball was made following this evaluation.
“Like many universities across the country—especially regional universities like ours—we continue to navigate difficult financial terrain, uncertainty about future enrollment trends, increased competition, and diminished state and federal support,” said Purdue Fort Wayne Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer. “We must align the university’s expenses with its revenue to ensure the long-term sustainability of the institution and to provide a first-rate education and experience for our students.”
With the sponsorship adjustment, Purdue Fort Wayne will now sponsor 14 NCAA Division I programs.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Purdue University Fort Wayne is cutting 45 positions. The university says the move will save $6 million by the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.
Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer says they had no choice but to right-size their budget, and says the decisions were not made lightly.
This message was distributed to members of the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus community on Thursday afternoon:
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
I’m writing to share difficult but necessary news regarding the financial challenges we face at Purdue Fort Wayne.
Like many universities across the country—especially regional universities like ours—we continue to navigate difficult financial terrain, uncertainty about future enrollment trends, increased competition, and diminished state and federal support. Our institution is heavily dependent on tuition, and fluctuations in enrollment and funding have a significant impact on our annual operating budget.
We must align the university’s expenses with its revenue to ensure the long-term sustainability of the institution.
Purdue Fort Wayne has no choice but to right-size its budget and live within its means. Therefore, the university must act immediately to eliminate more than $6 million from its operating budget by the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. These adjustments will not involve academic degree programs, but unfortunately, will involve an immediate reduction in force of approximately 45 positions.
We understand the personal and professional consequences of workforce reductions, and these decisions were not taken lightly. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and service of all affected employees, and we are committed to providing support and resources to those impacted during this transition.
This is a moment for strategic recalibration. While difficult, it is also a time for reinvestment in our priorities and renewed commitment in our students’ success. Let there be no mistake, our graduates continue to enter the workforce among the best prepared to succeed in their chosen fields, and interest in the university from prospective students and community partners continues to grow.
This fall, we will embark on our next iteration of strategic initiatives, which will be focused on increasing our enrollment and providing the highest levels of support and engagement for our students.
I ask for your compassion, resilience, and continued commitment to our shared goals as we address these changes together.
Sincerely,
Ron Elsenbaumer
Chancellor
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