{"id":39029,"date":"2025-01-25T12:24:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=39029"},"modified":"2025-01-25T12:48:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:48:22","slug":"sonoma-state-eliminating-dozens-of-degree-programs-laying-off-faculty-amid-24m-deficit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/01\/25\/sonoma-state-eliminating-dozens-of-degree-programs-laying-off-faculty-amid-24m-deficit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sonoma State eliminating dozens of degree programs, laying off faculty amid $24M deficit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Nanette Asimov<\/a>,Higher Education Reporter Updated\u00a0Jan 24, 2025 (SFChronicle.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Officials at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park announced they will make major cuts to academic programs, faculty, staff and sports due to a $24 million budget deficit amid declining enrollment.Scott Strazzante\/The Chronicle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonoma State University announced Wednesday that it will take extraordinary steps to close a crushing $24 million budget hole by eliminating six academic departments, ending nearly two dozen degree programs, canceling Division II athletics<\/a> and laying off more than 60 faculty and staff \u2014 including tenured professors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cuts will happen in the fall, the university said. Students will no longer be able to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree in 15 subjects \u2014 including physics, environmental sciences and French \u2014 or a master\u2019s degree in six areas, including English, Spanish or history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The university won\u2019t renew the contracts of 46 tenured professors and adjunct faculty, and said it will eliminate 12 staff jobs, four management positions and \u201cseveral more\u201d lecturers. Sonoma State has 11 varsity athletic teams, including baseball, basketball, golf and soccer. None will return next fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know this is difficult news,\u201d interim President Emily Cutrer said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cI understand that no amount of explanation or necessity makes any of us feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Math Professor Elaine Newman, president of the Sonoma State chapter of the California Faculty Association, called the cuts \u201ccapricious and arbitrary.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe future of the whole university is threatened by the cuts,\u201d Newman said, calling on state lawmakers and the leaders of the California State University system to \u201cbail out Sonoma State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mildred Garcia, chancellor of the 23-campus California State University system, described the cuts at the Rohnert Park campus as a \u201cplan for achieving long-term financial stability\u201d and said CSU supports them.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it is CSU\u2019s policy to reduce financial allocations to campuses that fail to meet enrollment targets. Sonoma State is one of eight CSU campuses<\/a> that missed enrollment targets and will see its allocation from CSU\u2019s central office reduced as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Bay Area, the others include Cal State East Bay, Cal Maritime and San Francisco State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n