ST. CLOUD (AP) — St. Cloud State University is considering cutting its football program and other sports as it deals with a budget shortfall.

The university is weighing three options: eliminating football, cutting football and three other sports or keeping the football program and eliminating eight other sports. The university’s athletics department has a $500,000 shortfall for the fiscal year beginning next July.

St. Cloud State will ask the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference next month for permission to remain in the conference if the university cuts one of the sports required to be an NSIC member.

The conference’s presidents meet Sept. 20 to discuss the issue.

The St. Cloud Times says the university is also making deep cuts academically. It’s sent layoff notices and early retirement offers to dozens of faculty members in an attempt to cut $14 million from the fiscal 2012 budget.