MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s housekeeping department will be discontinued effective March 31, according to Jeff Spear, vice president of finance and treasurer of MVNU. WFF Facilities Services will take over the housekeeping operation on April 1.

Seventeen housekeepers will be affected by the decision to outsource the cleaning of classrooms, the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium, the main campus structures and some dormitories. Of those 17, 14 are full-time employees and three are part time, Spear said.

The cause for the action is an anticipated $1.75 million shortfall in revenue following a small freshman class size with only 303 new students.

“Last fall we recruited a small class. That stays with you for four years,” he said.

In the fall of 2004, MVNU enrolled 304 first-time freshman. That number has fluctuated since then with 380 in 2005; 347 in 2006; 351 in 2007; and 368 in 2008.