PSU works because we do: stop the layoffs, stop the understaffing

Faculty Senate Meeting
At Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting (recording here), President Cudd offered a verbal apology for her “unclear” communications and for the “bad feelings” it created. 

But what was stated earlier today in that blog post was very unclear and has led to bad feelings, which I regret. What I should have said is that we have taken the decision to take the steps necessary with Faculty Senate and AAUP, to get to the conclusion we seek. I apologize for suggesting that we have already done so. We have not done so we are still in the process of negotiations about the exact process that will be applied. I apologize to the AAUP leadership Senate for suggesting that they have engaged in formal consultation with us about this. - (minute mark 1:15:52)

Board of Trustees’ Finance & Administration Committee Meeting
Since Monday, the Board of Trustees’ Finance and Administration Committee met to consider Dr. Cudd’s request for an additional spend of the University’s Reserves (full recording here).  There were around 180 community members in attendance to observe that meeting. They heard PSU-AAUP members’ message loud and clear: stave off massive cuts. While the majority of the committee spoke in support of additional reserves spending for the upcoming fiscal year, no formal recommendations were made and there are no guarantees this spending will be allowed.

The Chair of the Finance & Administration Committee continued to insist that University Administration prepare for massive “right-sizing” of the institution at a much quicker pace. To translate: faster cuts; deeper cuts.

Over the summer President Cudd’s administration intends to identify programs with poor “program margins” and begin the process of program reductions in September. This process will take into account what the administration provocatively refers to as “operational complexities” such as Shared Governance (aka Faculty Senate) and Collective Bargaining Agreements (aka unions).

What's happened since?

After several weeks of negotiating to get a severance package for Intensive English Language Program (IELP) faculty, PSU-AAUP and Administration have reached a tentative agreement. This agreement is in the form of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PSU-AAUP and the University. Read more about the Tentative Agreement...

What does all of this mean?
Without robust pushback by the campus community IELP will be just the beginning. If the Finance Board Chair's vision is enacted, more cuts are coming and layoffs in 2024-2025 are imminent.