Illinois Institute of Technology lays off 160 faculty and staff
By Kate Perez | kperez@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: August 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM CDT
The Illinois Institute of Technology reduced its workforce by around 160 faculty and staff positions, a move a university spokesperson said comes as higher education institutions across the country face demographic declines, research cutbacks, and restrictions on international students attending U.S. universities.
In a statement to the Tribune, the university spokesperson wrote that Illinois Tech recently made “the difficult, but decisive, steps needed to address these challenges and protect our mission as an opportunity engine for all.”
“In order to protect our mission, ensure fiscal stability, and continue to provide excellent education for our students, we must transform the university to align with the future of our student body. Regretfully, this involves difficult changes for some of our community members,” the statement read.
Reductions were announced last week and were made in part to “strengthen the university’s long-term financial health,” Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi wrote in a July 28 email to the university that was obtained by the Tribune.
“I know that words cannot capture the magnitude of this moment for our community,” Echambadi wrote in the email. “Thank you for the care you show one another, for your continued commitment to our students, and for your shared belief in Illinois Tech’s future.”
Illinois Tech’s main campus is located in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood, with other campuses throughout the Chicagoland area. The university also has a college of law, Chicago-Kent, located in the Loop, facing reductions, according to a July 21 vote of no confidence resolution by the law school’s faculty that was shared with the Tribune.
A person walks on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus in Chicago on Aug. 4, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
According to the resolution, 37 law school faculty members voted having no confidence in Illinois Tech’s president or provost, compared to one person voting yes. The resolution further claims that the university’s staffing cuts were also tied to overall enrollment declines, while the law school’s enrollment is increasing.
Overall enrollment at Illinois Tech has fluctuated in recent years, with 8,838 students enrolled in fall 2024 and 7,502 in fall 2025, according to its website. Chicago-Kent has seen a slight increase in enrollment, with 707 students enrolling in its J.D. program in fall 2024 and 719 in fall 2025.
Illinois Tech did not respond to questions about whether students had been informed of the layoffs or if financial pressure contributed to the reductions. However, classes will not be canceled as a result of the layoffs and the student-to-faculty ratio is expected to be 15:1 after the reductions, the university spokesperson confirmed to the Tribune.
“We recognize that changes of this nature have a significant impact on members of our community, and we are committed to approaching this process with compassion and support, including severance and transition assistance. We will respect the privacy of those affected as this work proceeds,” the statement read. “As always, we will continue to place students at the center of all that we do and to ensure educational excellence at Illinois Tech.”