Howard University has had a number of financial problems in recent years but these cuts sound like the effects of the higher ed bubble.

Nick Anderson of the Washington Post reports.

Howard University to cut about 200 staff positions

Howard University is cutting about 200 staff positions during the next several months, a university spokeswoman said, reducing its workforce by nearly 4 percent.

Howard spokeswoman Kerry-Ann Hamilton described the cuts, which began Thursday, as “enterprise-wide.” She said the university “worked carefully to ensure no changes in public safety” and to “preserve services in student-facing and clinical areas.”

There were no details available on what positions will be cut and how many layoffs might result. Howard, a 10,297-student university that also operates a teaching hospital in Northwest Washington, has faced several fiscal challenges during the past few years.

The university has 5,474 employees, including the hospital’s staff, Hamilton said.

WAMU (88.5 FM) reported Jan. 24 that some university maintenance workers staged a rally to protest outsourcing.

“The university continues to pursue comprehensive strategies to enhance and achieve operational efficiencies as we provide excellent educational, research and clinical environments,” Howard said in a statement issued through Hamilton. “This includes difficult but necessary actions as we realign and re-engineer our workforce at the university and the hospital.

“This is an ongoing effort as the university carefully implements our strategic plan to address quality and efficiency including workforce realignment, streamlining procurement processes and seeking partners to support our non-core functions.”