A group of seven retired Sonoma State professors has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the university’s planned cuts to faculty, academic programs, and athletics. They argue that these drastic measures will actually decrease enrollment, not increase it, and ultimately lead to the campus’s closure.
The professors question the logic of eliminating core academic departments and sports programs, asking how this will attract students. They point to Humboldt State as an example of a campus that successfully addressed enrollment challenges with support and investment from the CSU system. They criticize the CSU’s leadership, citing high administrative turnover and salaries, and argue that Sonoma State’s administration is bloated, with too high a ratio of administrators to faculty.
The retired professors also take issue with Interim President Cutrer’s handling of the cuts, claiming a lack of transparency and collaboration with faculty, staff, and students. They suggest alternative cost-saving measures, such as re-evaluating funding for the Green Music Center, and warn of potential lawsuits if the current plan proceeds. They contend that the university’s focus should be on its core mission of education, not on administrative overhead.
