Students walk out at St. Norbert over layoffs, transparency
Source: greenbaypressgazette.com
TL;DR
- Over 70 St. Norbert College students walked out to protest faculty layoffs and demand more transparency from leaders.
- College cut 12 non-tenured faculty this month after 35 positions last fall amid a $9.2 million two-year deficit.
- Students worry cuts harm education quality and diversity despite enrollment drop of 17% over recent years.
The story at a glance
Over 70 students at St. Norbert College in De Pere staged a walkout on March 27 outside Main Hall to protest recent faculty layoffs and call for input in decisions. Key figures include student organizers like Brooklyn Filtzkowski and Scotlyn Roemhilt, along with Vice President Joseph Webb and spokesperson Mike Counter. The action followed a town hall with 250 students and comes after the college's second round of cuts this year.[[1]](https://fox11online.com/news/local/st-norbert-college-students-stage-walkout-over-faculty-cuts-budget-de-pere-enrollment-humanities-education-university-programs)[[2]](https://www.aol.com/st-norbert-college-students-stage-200605152.html)
Key points
- Students chanted "Students united, we'll never be divided" and left notes in a box outside administration detailing cuts' impacts.
- Recent layoffs hit 12 junior faculty, nine in humanities; last fall saw 35 positions cut after initial reports of 41.[[2]](https://www.aol.com/st-norbert-college-students-stage-200605152.html)
- Enrollment fell 17% (about 300 students) over five to ten years, from over 2,300 to 1,750, driving $9.2 million deficits for fiscal years 2024-2025.
- Students raised concerns over diversity loss, as some laid off were hired for initiatives, and one professor's unexplained leave.
- College held a two-hour town hall Tuesday with 250 attendees but students called it reactive, not proactive.
- Administration says cuts used data, third-party consultants, and input from groups to right-size while keeping education quality steady.[[1]](https://fox11online.com/news/local/st-norbert-college-students-stage-walkout-over-faculty-cuts-budget-de-pere-enrollment-humanities-education-university-programs)
Details and context
The college faces national higher education trends like declining enrollment, leading to operational and personnel reductions plus program reviews—adding engineering while possibly cutting others. Students noted cuts announced before spring break affected diversity efforts and left gaps like philosophy professors for current classes.
One junior considered transferring due to poor communication on grad school advising; others fear retribution for protesting. The walkout built on prior dissent, with students emphasizing their tuition stake in decisions.
Vice President Webb highlighted peer closures to justify proactive steps, noting faculty-student ratios improved from five years ago.
Key quotes
"We disagree with the solutions that have been taken to address that declining enrollment... it's important to also focus on the students who are admitted at St. Norbert." — Scotlyn Roemhilt, sophomore humanities major.[[1]](https://fox11online.com/news/local/st-norbert-college-students-stage-walkout-over-faculty-cuts-budget-de-pere-enrollment-humanities-education-university-programs)
"These decisions are challenging... but they're necessary to ensure we're right-sizing the institution based on the declining student enrollment." — Joseph Webb, vice president for student affairs.[[3]](https://www.nbc26.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/de-pere/my-education-my-voice-st-norbert-students-protest-faculty-layoffs)
Why it matters
Small private colleges like St. Norbert face growing pressure from enrollment drops, forcing tough choices on programs and staff that affect campus culture. Current students risk disrupted advising, diversity support, and major options, while future enrollees see shifts toward vocational fields. Watch for program cut announcements or enrollment stabilization efforts, though more layoffs remain possible without revenue gains.