The Illinois Institute of Technology has laid off approximately 160 faculty and staff just before the start of the fall semester, a university spokesperson said in a written statement. According to an email shared with WBEZ, the university’s president said Illinois Tech is facing research funding cuts and “severe restrictions on international students.” “The university has no choice but to pursue targeted reductions to address these challenges and protect our mission as an opportunity engine for all,” Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi wrote in an email to employees on Tuesday. Illinois Tech, which has its main campus in Bronzeville and a law center downtown, is not the only university with these struggles. The Trump administration has significantly cut federal funding for university research and tightened regulations on foreign students.