WATERLOO — Wilfrid Laurier University announced Tuesday it has eliminated 22 jobs to address a projected budget deficit.

The cuts were from support staff and management, and work hours for another five positions are being reduced voluntarily.

The Waterloo university faces a projected $25-million deficit on an operating budget of more than $200 million this fiscal year if no action is taken.

"When you're cutting that much out, it's impossible to do that without getting into wages and benefits, unfortunately," said Max Blouw, president and vice-chancellor.

Salaries and benefits make up about 80 per cent of the university's operating budget. The eliminated jobs represent about two per cent of the university's total staff positions and two per cent of management jobs.

Employees affected were informed Monday and Tuesday, Blouw said, and given a severance package and support from the employee assistance program.

Privacy reasons prevent the university from disclosing which specific jobs have been eliminated, university spokesperson Kevin Crowley said in an email.

"They're really all over the university," Blouw said.

Three additional management jobs that are currently vacant have been eliminated.

The staffing reductions will save about $8.4 million. A variety of other cuts to operating costs are expected to save an estimated $2 million.

That still leaves a roughly $15 million gap in dealing with the deficit.

"Our finance team is developing a number of scenarios to deal with this $15 million," Crowley said. "However, we do not anticipate any further layoffs in 2015-16 related to budget cuts."

Blouw said there is "no direct relationship" between this week's cuts and an 18-month academic and administrative program review, and the report that came out of it approved by the board of governors in late February.

Recommendations in the report — which is not supported by most faculty and drew a large crowd of student and staff protesters to the board meeting — could affect 18 programs or courses. Also recommended was closing the Robert Langen Art Gallery and withdrawing funding for the Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

Approval by the board doesn't necessarily mean the recommendations will be enacted.

Managers were asked what positions could be eliminated if cuts were needed, Blouw said. While he said the cuts weren't related to the report, some of the eliminated positions are related to program areas.

He said a number of positions at a WLU Press, which publishes scholarly books in the social sciences and humanities, were cut to try and make it sustainable. No one from the art gallery is losing their position, according to a university spokesperson.

"All of us at the university regret the position we're in," Blouw said of the campus finances.

Along with the positions cut in support staff and management, faculty positions will be reduced at Laurier, too. That will be done through a voluntary retirement program, not renewing some limited-term academic appointments and a reduction in teaching assignments for contract academic staff.

Blouw said faculty changes will depend on how many voluntarily retire, with the university expecting to know more by April or May.

Blouw said Laurier has been working to lower its operating costs, but the budget has been strained by less government funding in the past few years, tuition constraints, increased pension costs, aging infrastructure and declining enrolment.

"They've all combined to create a real problem for us," said Blouw, adding that other universities are in the same difficult position. "We're not alone."

However, he said, the priority at Laurier remains providing an exceptional student experience. "The quality of our student environment will continue to be outstanding."

The student group Laurier Student Voices disagrees. A statement provided by Connor Young said "they mourn the loss of 22 irreplaceable staff members."

"Our administration has gone too far. This is can be seen as a direct reflection of our senior administration's stance on the students here: WE DO NOT MATTER," the statement said. "We will be speaking with our Students' Union and taking action in the days ahead. The integrity of our institution depends on it."

No one from the Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union could be reached Tuesday.