Shake up at Sonoma State University

[Sequoia]

Unable to post link, but you can look it up. Entire athletic department eliminated as well as art history, philosophy, women's studies, geology, economis MAs in history, English, and more . Tragic and heartless to students and faculty. As an alumni this just cuts the heart.

[DBoon]

1. from the Sonoma State Star

https://sonomastatestar.com/37350/news/sweeping-cuts-planned-for-ssu-all-sports-to-be-eliminated/

On Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. the Sonoma State community received an email that undoubtedly will be remembered as one of the most dire in campus history. The email from Interim President Dr. Emily F. Cutrer stated that the school has come to an “unfortunate realization” – the budget deficit has increased, from the previous estimate of $21 million to nearly $24 million, necessitating a series of sweeping cuts to programs, departments, and faculty positions – and the elimination of all sports at Sonoma State.
...
However, sports is not the only department that is to be removed from Sonoma State.

Other ‘Departments identified for closure’ include the Art History, Economics; Geology; Philosophy; Theater and Dance; and Women and Gender Studies departments.
...
The following programs are identified for elimination by the University: Administrative Services Credential in ELSE; Art History BA; Art Studio BFA; Dance BA; Earth and Environmental Sciences BA; Economics BA; Education Leadership MA; English MA; French BA; Geology BS; German Minor; Global Studies BA; History MA; Interdisciplinary Studies BA; Interdisciplinary Studies MA; Philosophy BA; Physical Science BA; Physics BA; Physics BS; Public Administration MPA; Spanish MA; Theatre Arts BA; Women and Gender Studies BA.

[mike_c]

7. interesting

I'm a former CSU faculty union campus president (CPH). Sonoma State must confer about this with the California Faculty Association and likely some other affected bargaining units too. Either CFA has already agreed to this or the shit is about to be introduced to the fan. I'm retired and living in a different state now, so I won't know which until I exchange a few emails. The CSU has wanted to close programs like women's studies and sociology of marginalized populations, i.e. chicana studies, gender identity studies, and so on for almost as long as I can remember.

[mike_c]

8. CFA has strongly condemned this plan

https://www.calfac.org/sonoma-state-administrators-announce-layoffs-department-closures-and-mergers/

"The reductions include the laying off of upwards of 130 faculty (including tenured faculty, lecturers, Coaches and Faculty Early Retirement Program faculty); the elimination of 23 academic programs and six departments, and another seven departments would be consolidated to three. All NCAA Division II athletics programs would be eliminated. Impacted faculty have rights and should reach out to their chapter leaders for support.

With these cuts, the Sonoma State Administration is cutting the faculty by over 25%. Layoffs are set for May for temporary faculty and July for faculty on the tenure track."

snip

"We’ve seen this before and we won’t fall for the administration’s premature austerity nonsense. Current funding from the state legislature is at historical highs, CSU trustees approved a student-tuition increase of 34 percent over the next five years, and CSU reserves are some of the healthiest the university has experienced.

The proposed cuts, department and program eliminations, and faculty job loss are not inevitable. Chancellor Garcia and the Board of Trustees can reverse these changes and demonstrate a leadership that privileges students, instruction, academic and educational integrity."

[brush]

2. WTH? Will there be anything left? How can there be such deep budget cuts?

A disruption of thousands of lives, jobs lost...if it happened there it can't be just that one campus. More must be coming.

[IbogaProject]

3. lower tier colleges and universities are under stress

Between the miserly government support and declining student enrollment.

[JoseBalow]

4. SSU is part of the Cal State system

CSU has about two dozen campuses across the state.

[mahina]

5. A very familiar process, to my sorrow.

We almost lost our accreditation at the University of Hawaii Manoa. That was the only reason a few departments were spared the last time we went through this process. Wishing you luck, and luck to all.

[Bread and Circuses]

6. Sonoma State

Sonoma State is part of the huge 23 college system. Unfortunately, Sonoma has been in the lower tier with low enrollment. It never seemed to get on solid ground. It may need to pare down departments that are duplicated at other campuses. I don’t know how the decision was made. It is sad to see. Hope that all the people land safely.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

9. youtube link here

[Unwind Your Mind]

10. I went there too, this sucks

I took a class from the guy who is the Econ chair of the department IIRC

I guess I have to go look at that LI site, will report back

[Unwind Your Mind]

11. Strange I didn't find much of anything

My old professor is in a different job now but he’s usually an active poster 🤷‍♀️