SCSU Interim President Announces Financial Recovery Plan, Possible Job Cuts

New details shed light on how St. Cloud State University (SCSU) will attempt to address a massive budget deficit, and the university’s interim president has begun laying out plans for how big budget cuts.

On Monday, Larry Lee — who was named interim president just days ago after Robbyn Wacker resigned ahead of schedule — sent a letter addressing the budget challenge.

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He wrote that last year SCSU had an operating loss of $18 million and is expected to lose another $5 million this year. Lee said higher education is facing unprecedented challenges with declining student enrollment and financial constraints.

He added that the university would meet with other bargaining units on campus to discuss the proposed cuts, which include 13 percent of administrators plus a 13 percent reduction of faculty, which would result in the loss of 57 faculty positions.

“The number of students we have on campus unfortunately does not match the number of faculty we have,” Lee told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “The changes we are making are intended to ensure that everyone who remains here and the students we will serve today and tomorrow receive the same type of quality experiences we have had over the past 155 years.”

The letter does not explain when these meetings with other bargaining units will take place.

As reported in May last year, the university cut 36 staff members – teaching and non-teaching – as part of its 2023-2024 budget. Additionally, 70 programs stopped accepting new students, bringing the number of program areas down to 239. Admission was also suspended to the following four programs and centers: philosophy (BA, minor), religious studies (minor), theater and social change. (BA, minor), Marriage and Family Therapy (MS, GC), and Academic Learning Center.

The text of the full letter sent Monday can be found here or below.