As student enrollment continues to decline at the University of Phoenix, the school has resorted to layoffs and reduced the number of full-time faculty positions.

Around 170 of the university’s full-time faculty members were switched to associate positions or lost their jobs in the latest round of layoffs.

The for-profit university says it tried to improve student retention rates in 2013 by switching many associate faculty members to full-time roles.

But after making the change, the school saw a decline in enrollments, course sections offered and instructors needed.