Oakland City, IN – A southern Indiana university is preparing for significant workforce reductions, impacting more than 160 employees ahead of the summer.
According to a WARN notice submitted Wednesday to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Oakland City University plans to conduct a mass layoff at its Oakland City campus effective June 1, 2026. The filing states that 110 full-time employees and 57 adjunct and part-time workers will be affected, totaling 167 positions.
University officials cited ongoing financial challenges as the primary reason for the cuts, noting the reductions are necessary to maintain operations. The notice indicates the layoffs may become permanent and that there are no applicable bumping rights for impacted workers.
The federally required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act mandates employers provide at least 60 days’ notice in advance of mass layoffs or plant closures. Employees were formally notified Wednesday, giving them the required advance notice ahead of the June layoffs.
Oakland City University, a private institution founded in 1885, has not publicly outlined which departments or programs will be most affected. It remains unclear how the layoffs could impact students, course offerings, or campus operations heading into the next academic year.
In the filing, university leadership stated the information provided reflects the best available details at this time but may be subject to change. Officials encouraged those seeking more information to contact the university’s administration office.
The layoffs come amid broader financial pressures facing higher education institutions nationwide, particularly smaller private colleges navigating enrollment shifts and rising operational costs.
More updates are expected as the university finalizes its transition plans in the coming weeks.
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