Western Michigan University launched an early retirement buyout program for certain tenured faculty as it works to relieve budget pressure. Starting in September, tenured faculty aged 60 and over can apply if they have completed at least a decade of full-time service. The university said buyouts will be contingent on enough faculty signing up to save at least $5 million. If accepted, payouts would range from 50% to 100% of salary for fiscal 2027, with faculty departing at the end of 2026. The announcement arrives alongside documented enrollment and operating pressure: fall enrollment fell 22% between 2019 and 2024 to 16,744 students, and WMU’s operating loss widened by more than 26% in fiscal 2025. WMU’s interim leadership framed the move as part of workforce stewardship intended to address ongoing budgetary challenges.