Fontbonne University, a private Catholic institution located in Clayton, Missouri, is facing imminent closure as student enrollment continues to decline and budget cuts force the elimination of academic majors and faculty positions. The university's parent organization, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, recently announced the decision to close the institution after over a century of operation.

Student enrollment at Fontbonne has drastically decreased in recent years. The fall 2023 enrollment figures reveal a mere 874 students, including 650 undergraduates, which is a significant drop from the approximate 2,000 enrolled a decade ago. This decline in enrollment has put significant financial strain on the university, with annual tuition currently set at around $29,000.

In response to the budgetary challenges, Fontbonne University had to make tough decisions, resulting in the elimination of 21 academic majors and 19 faculty positions. These cuts were made to alleviate a budget deficit of over $2 million. Unfortunately, these measures have been met with disappointment from students and alumni, who expressed their sadness at witnessing the decline of a once-thriving institution.

Fontbonne's parent institution, Washington University, has yet to disclose the sale price for the campus. However, they have announced that the property will be leased back to Fontbonne for a nominal amount as they wind down operations. Washington University also clarified that they currently have no specific plans for the adjacent campus.

Michelle Torigian, a Fontbonne alumna and pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville, described the closure as a loss, stating, "It's really hard to see something that was such a great part of our lives in the process of dying... Being a person of faith, Fontbonne was a piece of that faith journey for me. You hope that from every ending comes a beautiful new beginning. But first, there is a time to grieve, and that's what this time is."

As Fontbonne University prepares to wind down its operations, the closure serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by smaller private institutions in the current higher education landscape. The impact of declining enrollment and financial constraints highlights the need for effective strategies to navigate these hurdles and ensure the longevity of educational institutions.