Un immune to the economic climate, the university was forced to layoff eleven staff members at the end of last spring. An increased demand in financial aid during the recession forced the school to make the cuts. No professors were let go and student services were unaffected. The university offered an early retirement package to some staff members back in 2009; however the savings were unable to keep the university from having to make cuts. “Our commitment is to try to keep Hartford education affordable and accessible as possible we can given all of the pressures of the budget we face and our first commitment is to financial aid and so to meet that we have to make some choices that are not necessarily easy or pleasant,” Said University President Walter Harrison. President Harrison also says students should not notice any difference in the daily operation at the university.