Howard University has cut 84 staff positions, the university announced Friday.
The university did not specify which postions were eliminated, but News4 has confirmed E. Ethelbert Miller, director of Howard University's African American Resource Center, was among those fired.
Miller had been at Howard for more than 40 years. He declined to comment to News4.
"Eliminating these positions was necessary to ensure long-term financial stability," spokesperson Rachel Mann said in a statement. "We do not expect this decision to have any adverse impact on student services or their academic studies."
Howard said the affected staff have been offered severance packages, an extension of health benefits and outplacement assistance.
A statement from the university thanked former colleagues for their service, commitment and dedication to Howard and said the cuts would not have any impact on students.
"The decision to reduce staff is never an easy one. University leadership carefully evaluated a variety of options before concluding that eliminating these positions was necessary to ensure long-term financial stability for the University," the statement read. "We do not expect this decision to have any adverse impact on student services or their academic studies."
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Just over a month ago, the university said it would freeze tuition for the 2015-2016 academic year for undergraduate students and certain graduate students. It also announced tuition rebates for graduating early or on time.
But two years ago, a trustee warned the university was in "genuine trouble" due to financial problems and mismanagement. Howard announced layoffs for 200 staff members in February 2014, the Washington Post reported at the time.
Howard University reported a $44 million loss for fiscal 2014, according to the Washington Business Journal. The school alone had a $13 million profit but Howard University Hospital's $58 million loss for the fiscal year pulled the entire university into a loss. Hospital workers took 12 furlough days in 2013 in order to cut costs.
The historically black private university was established in 1867 and has an enrollment of more than 11,000 students, according to the university's website.
