Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University, citing criticism and the potential loss of federal money, said it will close a program that promotes Chinese music.

Valparaiso University announced Tuesday that it has adopted the Beacons as its new team name, replacing the Crusaders, a term school officials dropped this year after saying it had been embraced by hate groups.

Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns announced in a message to faculty that masks would be required in all university buildings beginning Monday. And Valparaiso University is requiring all students, faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the fall semester.

The university furloughed 154 full-time employees and 46 part-time employees, it said in a news release. The layoffs began Thursday and are expected to last though July 31.

The plan to move Valparaiso University's struggling law school to Middle Tennessee State University was endorsed by the two schools earlier this month. Nearly a year ago, Valparaiso announced its law school was facing severe financial challenges.

The school is offering tenured professors and other faculty members with multi-year contracts buyouts due to the nationwide trend of sharp declines in student applications and enrollment.