Nearly four months after announcing major a reorganization effort amidst the need for “structural changes,” and asking for volunteers to accept a separation incentive package, UMass Lowell will still have to layoff 23-employees.

The announcement was made via email by Chancellor Julie Chen yesterday and posted on the University website this morning.

Chen writes that despite the elimination or freezing of 60-positions, and the fact 23-staff members accepted the separation package, further steps are necessary.

“We have made tremendous progress and greatly decreased the number of necessary layoffs compared to our initial estimates,” Chen wrote in the email. “But we were not able to find savings to eliminate layoffs entirely.”

“The university today implemented a difficult decision to lay off 23 valued employees,” said UML Spokesperson Jon Strunk when asked for comment. “The move – the final option following dozens of additional cost-saving measures — balances its budget as it faces smaller junior and senior pandemic-era enrollments, the end of one-time pandemic federal dollars, inflation and other cost increases. With the successful ongoing recruitment of larger classes to replace the smaller numbers of 2024 and 2025 graduates, surging research funding and one of the best public university returns on investment for students in Massachusetts, today’s challenges don’t represent UMass Lowell’s bright future.”

Chen’s email acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, especially on those receiving the news. She writes that “each of these individuals has been a vital part of this university and all have made important contributions to the success of UMass Lowell and our students.”