Western Michigan University is turning to faculty buyouts to stabilize its budget, offering early retirement packages aimed at easing long-term workforce costs. The program allows certain tenured faculty age 60+ to apply in September, with departures at the end of 2026 if enough participants sign on to save at least $5 million. If accepted, faculty would receive payouts ranging from 50% to 100% of salary for fiscal 2027, contingent on length of service. WMU’s financial pressure is tied to major enrollment decline—down 22% from 2019 to 2024—and a widening operating loss in fiscal 2025, alongside reduced state appropriations and weaker tuition and fees. For higher ed professionals, the WMU move is another example of how shrinking enrollment and tighter appropriations are reshaping staffing models, and how universities may increasingly use voluntary workforce reductions rather than larger layoffs to manage deficits.