TO: Campus Community
FR: Dr. Emily F. Cutrer, Interim President
As part of our commitment to transparency and information sharing as Sonoma State moves forward in addressing its budget deficit, a web page with links to budget deficit resources is now live at https://budget.sonoma.edu/
I know much discussion is taking place around campus about what specific deficit-reduction plans will ultimately emerge as this process continues. The sharing of concerns is completely understandable and expected. I am sympathetic and empathetic about the uncertainty that arises at times like these and want to assure you that – even with the urgency of solving this problem – decisions about the functional realignment of the campus are being made in a measured and thoughtful way, with as little disruption to the campus and individuals as possible.
That being said, no single day or event will capture the entirety of what actions must be taken to bring Sonoma State’s budget back into balance. During the October 24 town hall, I mentioned that ideally, we would put plans in place by mid-January 2025. We are working toward meeting that goal. However, as we reach decisions we will move forward with them, whether in the nearer term, in January, or later in the spring semester.
As I have stated before, the needs of our students will continue to come first in our decision-making. They are the reason we all are here, and ensuring our campus is fiscally and operationally sound – now and in the years to come – is our obligation to them and to the communities we serve.