Wichita State is expecting a 3% reduction to its General Use budget for fiscal year 2027, University President Richard Muma announced via WSU’s staff and faculty newsletter Thursday morning. 

He wrote that the university will look at ways to reduce expenses and bring in more revenue, which “will likely require a reduction in our workforce in some areas.”

“Through the upcoming spring budget cycle,” Muma wrote in his announcement, “we will review cost-saving and revenue-generating strategies, and keep you updated on any additional information that emerges from the state budget process. We will share more about specific reductions as this work progresses, and our goal will always be to minimize the impact on our campus community as much as possible.”

A decline in international enrollment due to visa changes, state funding not keeping up with financial needs and investments in athletics are factors attributed to the reduction, according to Muma. 

Muma wrote that while WSU saw increased overall enrollment this academic year, “headcount alone does not always translate into revenue growth.”

WSU will continue to be “focused on key growth initiatives that have left us in better shape than most other universities, including our investment in strategic enrollment management plans, paid applied learning for students, partnership initiatives as part of our Innovation Campus and Wichita Biomedical Campus, and supporting our Shocker student-athletes,” according to the announcement.

The Sunflower has contacted WSU’s Strategic Communications department for more information on the impact of this. 

Read the full budget update here.