Sonoma State University is grappling with a projected budget deficit of $23.9 million, a significant increase from the previously estimated $21 million.
Interim President Dr. Emily F. Cutrer addressed the financial situation at a Town Hall on October 24, 2024, outlining steps being taken to address the shortfall.
As part of efforts to balance the budget, SSU says it will eliminate 46 faculty positions, including both tenured and adjunct roles. In addition, the university will also cut four management positions and 12 staff positions. The school says the decision follows years of ongoing budget struggles primarily driven by a significant decline in student enrollment, which has dropped by 38% since 2015.
SSU says it has already taken measures over the past two years to mitigate the deficit, including employee separations, staff reductions, hiring freezes and academic streamlining. However, these steps have not been sufficient to fully close the gap. To further reduce costs, the university will eliminate several programs and departments, including Art History, Economics, Geology and Philosophy. Additional mergers will take place across various academic departments, the school said.
Furthermore, SSU has made the difficult decision to eliminate its NCAA Division II athletics program. This move is part of a broader effort to reduce instructional and operational costs, which includes a reduction of $8 million in instructional expenses, $3.8 million from reorganization efforts, and $3.7 million from discontinuing athletics. The university anticipates these cuts will help stabilize its finances in the short term.
President Cutrer emphasized that while these actions are necessary to close the budget gap and ensure SSU’s long-term financial stability, they have been painful for the entire campus community.
A campus Town Hall will be held on Thursday, January 30, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms to discuss these changes further. Additional information and resources for students, faculty, and staff can be found on the university’s budget website.
For support during this difficult time, counseling services are available to students through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), while staff and faculty can access assistance through the Employee Assistance Program, LifeMatters by Empathia.
