$8.1M in budget cuts force Stanislaus State to make course & staff reductions
Stanislaus State is bracing for an $8.1 million budget cut for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which has prompted concerns from both administration and faculty about the future of the university’s mission and student services.
University Vice President for Business & Finance Rose McAuliffe acknowledged the tangible impacts of the cuts, including potential effects on classroom experiences and the ability to fully meet student needs. Budget reductions may result in fewer course section options or increased class sizes.
In a statement, McAuliffe outlined the university’s strategy to navigate the shortfall, which includes a blend of cost management and the pursuit of alternative revenue streams.
She highlighted several actions already taken, including a voluntary separation incentive program, where staff can retire early, which resulted in the elimination of 50 permanent positions and a $5 million reduction in the base budget. Eight were in either lecturer or instructional faculty positions. Additionally, 10 management personnel plan positions were not retained, reducing the budget by an additional $1.6 million.
Part-time faculty are assigned to address critical teaching needs, McAuliffe added.
To further trim costs, 324 classes have been canceled since the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year, resulting in $2.38 million in savings, and 45 courses have been adjusted to align with lower student enrollment. Each division’s operating budget has also been reduced by at least 5%. No majors have been eliminated.
The university also plans to implement cost-saving measures by leaving vacant positions unfilled and restricting spending to essential needs. McAuliffe said class sizes may increase and departments and programs may be consolidated when necessary. Travel and nonessential purchases will be limited, while some capital projects could be postponed. Additionally, the university is introducing energy-efficiency initiatives and exploring the expansion of self-support programs.
“As we take thoughtful and measured steps to mitigate the impact of these reductions — focusing on essential spending and institutional efficiencies — we remain focused on protecting our core mission: providing a high-quality education and critical support services for our students and ensuring that our stellar graduates fulfill the regional workforce and professional needs of the Central Valley,” McAuliffe said in a statement.
Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis expressed the university’s dedication to shaping the future of the Central Valley by ensuring its graduates are well-equipped to meet the region’s workforce demands. She also acknowledged the importance of community involvement in advocating for the resources necessary to sustain the university’s transformative impact on students and the broader region.
“While budgets provide a framework, it is our shared commitment as a community that keeps the Central Valley moving forward. The cutting-edge student success strategies experienced at Stan State are reflected in both national and regional acclaim and our stellar rankings,” Rios-Ellis said.
Faculty leader calls cuts ‘catastrophic’
However, faculty members have raised concerns about the university’s financial management and the necessity of these cuts.
Dave Colnic, chapter president of the California Faculty Association and chair of the political science department at Stan State, said such budget cuts aren’t necessary or inevitable and would be “catastrophic.”
Colnic pointed out that the CSU system’s audit report from 2023-2024 shows over $8 billion in cash and investments. “That’s a lot of money that would solve Sonoma State’s problems, that would solve San Francisco’s problems, that would solve our problems,” Colnic said.
He believes the financial troubles at Stanislaus State are more a result of managerial priorities rather than a lack of funds. He said the state has actually increased funding to the CSU system in recent years, but that those funds haven’t trickled down to campuses.
Colnic also voiced concerns about the impact of potential cuts on faculty and students. Some lecturers, especially those on one-year contracts, have already been informally laid off because their class was cut. In his own department, two lecturers were let go.
The reduction in course offerings and increased class sizes will adversely affect students’ ability to receive individualized attention, Colnic said. Larger class sizes also limit opportunities for students to engage in community projects, internships and research. Having fewer lecturers also places more workload on tenured faculty.
He said that the CFA has been actively involved in budget discussions, meeting with deans and provosts to influence funding decisions. The organization also participates in faculty and university budget committees, advocating for specific spending priorities.
“Our students deserve that sort of education that we know we can provide when we have the resources to do it,” Colnic said.
