PSU considers cuts to 19 programs
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Portland State University is considering reducing or eliminating 19 academic programs as it works to close a $35 million budget deficit.
Why it matters: Oregon's third-largest university by enrollment is looking to close its deficit by the end of the 2026-27 school year.
State of play: In a letter to union leaders, PSU president Ann Cudd identified 19 programs that could see cuts in a downsizing process called retrenchment, OPB reported.
- The criminal justice, history, economics, political science and philosophy departments could see reductions.
- The university's interdisciplinary general education bachelor's degree program, among others, could be eliminated entirely.
Between the lines: The school has seen enrollment decline by 23% since 2019.
What they're saying: "This is a painful time for the university," Cudd said, according to the Oregonian, noting that reductions in staffing would be likely.
- "While we are not at the point of announcing any layoffs today, the knowledge that they will likely be inevitable is unsettling and difficult for all of us."
Yes, but: Bill Knight, an English professor at PSU, criticized Cudd for not seeking alternatives to cuts.
- Southern Oregon University recently received $15 million in emergency state funding to avoid similar reductions.
- "Through layoffs and program closures, we only dig ourselves deeper into decline and build more barriers to our success," Knight said, per the Oregonian.
What's next: Cudd said the retrenchment process allows input from professors and students, and no final decisions on layoffs have been made.