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cover of episode What Sonoma State’s Massive Budget Cuts Mean for the University’s Future

What Sonoma State’s Massive Budget Cuts Mean for the University’s Future

2025/2/6
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People
A
Alexis Madrigal
D
Don Romesburg
E
Emily Cutrer
E
Emma Williams
L
LJ
M
Marisa Endicott
T
Taylor Hodges
Topics
Alexis Madrigal: 索诺马州立大学面临严重的预算赤字,导致不得不削减学术部门和终止体育项目。入学率下降和州政府资助减少是主要原因。过去的管理层未能有效解决预算问题,而新的削减计划对教职员工和体育项目造成了重大影响。我认为应该优先削减管理人员的薪水,而不是教师和体育项目。 Marisa Endicott: 预算削减主要集中在教学领域,包括教职员工职位、体育团队以及多个学术部门的关闭。入学率下降是多重因素共同作用的结果,包括疫情、人口结构变化、当地野火和生活成本高等。加州州立大学系统整体也面临预算问题,索诺马州立大学的削减部分原因是州政府资助的减少。我认为索诺马州立大学受到疫情、火灾和生活成本的影响更大,导致入学率下降。 Don Romesburg: 削减计划的宣布方式给教职员工和学生带来了极大的混乱和伤害。妇女与性别研究等对社会有重要贡献的部门实际上是盈利的,削减这些部门是不明智的。我认为应该放慢削减计划的速度,并利用加州州立大学的储备金来支持索诺马州立大学进行更慎重的重组。我们部门实际上是盈利的,每年为大学带来约20万美元的净收益。 Emily Cutrer: 索诺马州立大学面临巨额预算赤字,削减计划是应对州政府资助减少和入学率下降的必要措施。削减计划的主要目标是减少人员成本,以应对持续的预算赤字。加州州立大学系统的储备金不足以帮助所有面临预算削减的大学。我认为学校过去在招生方面做得不够好,现在正在采取措施改进招生工作,但需要时间才能见效。我希望州政府能够恢复对加州州立大学的资助。 Emma Williams: 削减计划的通知方式让教师和学生在学期开始时感到震惊和绝望。作为舞蹈专业的学生,我对未来感到迷茫,不得不紧急寻找其他学校。我认为学校应该更早地通知我们这些计划,而不是等到学期开始后。 LJ: 索诺马州立大学未能有效吸引学生,削减服务并不能解决问题。学校需要改变策略,积极吸引学生,而不是仅仅依赖削减成本。我认为学校应该更加注重招生,而不是一味地削减开支。 Taylor Hodges: 削减体育项目对学生运动员造成了巨大的压力,许多人正在寻找其他学校。转学过程非常困难,给运动员带来了额外的负担。我认为学校应该考虑到学生运动员的困境,提供更多的支持和帮助。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Sonoma State University faces a $24 million budget deficit due to declining enrollment (40% decrease since pre-pandemic), decreased state funding, and rising operational costs. The interim president announced plans for significant cuts, including eliminating academic departments and intercollegiate athletics, sparking outrage among faculty and students.
  • $24 million budget deficit
  • 40% decline in enrollment since pre-pandemic
  • Decreased state funding
  • Elimination of six academic departments
  • End of intercollegiate athletics program
  • 47 faculty and lecturer positions eliminated
  • 60 positions not up for renewal
  • 36 coaches and staff laid off

Shownotes Transcript

Facing a $24 million deficit, Sonoma State University has announced plans to eliminate six academic departments, lay off dozens of faculty and end intercollegiate athletics. Sonoma State officials say the university was forced to act due to a nearly 40 percent dip in enrollment and a decline in state funding, at a time when costs to run the university are on the rise. But many students and faculty members say they were blindsided by the cuts and are calling on officials to reconsider. We’ll check in with SSU’s interim president and others in the campus community.

Guests:

**Emma Williams, **sophomore, dance and history major, Sonoma State University

**Marisa Endicott, **reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat

**Don Romesburg, **chair of Department of Women's and Gender Studies, Sonoma State University; author, "Contested Curriculum: LGBTQ History Goes to School, out in April" from Rutgers University Press.

**Emily Cutrer, **interim president, Sonoma State University

**Taylor Hodges, **sophomore, communications major, Sonoma State University; member of SSU's soccer team