Western Michigan University launched an early retirement buyout program for certain tenured faculty to ease budget pressure. The plan allows eligible faculty aged 60 and older to apply starting in September, with buyout approvals contingent on enough participation to generate at least $5 million in savings. Accepted participants would depart at the end of 2026, with buyout payouts ranging from 50% to 100% of salary for fiscal 2027 depending on tenure length. Interim Provost Christopher Cheatham and Vice President for Finance Jan Van Der Kley said the program is intended to address ongoing workforce challenges while stewarding the institution’s future. WMU cited years of enrollment and financial strain: federal data shows fall enrollment dropped 22% from 2019 to 2024, while operating losses widened in fiscal 2025. For higher education employers, the move illustrates how regional publics are using targeted workforce levers as deficits widen and tuition revenue underperforms projections.