Washington U. in St. Louis Axes 25

The chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis informed staff Monday 25 full-time and part-time employees have been laid off and an additional 25 unfilled central administrative positions have been eliminated.

Chancellor Mark Wrighton said cuts in staff and administrative expenses has saved the university about $10 million over the last two years.

“The intense planning effort and resulting reductions in staffing and administrative expenses have been difficult,” Wrighton wrote. “The acutely difficult period of late 2008 and 2009 is over, but it reminds us to be wary of an uncertain future with respect to financial well being.”

A new fundraising campaign has been launched to secure $150 million for financial aid by June 30,2014, the St. Louis Business Journal reports. The fund has already taken in about $35 million, Wrighton said.