EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University announced on Tuesday that it will eliminate more than 400 jobs, about half of which are vacant, to help close a budget gap amid "mounting financial pressures."

University leaders said in the announcement that the past several months have been "the most difficult in our institution’s 174-year history."

What we know:

Even after taking "several measures" to address those financial pressures, Northwestern still faces a "significant" budget gap that cannot be closed without personnel cuts.

The layoffs come as Northwestern and other universities face a freezing of federal funding, but the school said the measures announced were in response to other factors, including rising healthcare expenses, litigation, labor contracts, employee benefits, and m

See Full Page