SJSU planning for layoffs, fee hikes and fewer students
Braced for reduced state support, San Jose State University is planning early summer layoffs, boosting fees and shrinking next fall's incoming classes.
"Our strategy is to keep quality high — but in order to do that with a smaller budget, we'll have fewer students," said SJSU President Jon Whitmore. "So fewer faculty will be needed — and fewer staff will be needed to provide services."
This year SJSU's budget was cut $44 million, or 20 percent — and similar belt-tightening is expected next year. California expects a $20 billion shortfall for the 2010-11 year.
The university imposed furloughs last fall that saved $18 million — and bought time, because many people retired or left their positions on campus. But these 2009-10 furloughs expire in June and will not be continued.
"The $18 million in savings generated by the furloughs has to be permanently out of the system," he said.
He would not speculate on the number of layoffs, but said tenured faculty are safe. The most likely candidates for job cuts are staff and temporary faculty. Layoffs will be governed by union contracts, which require prior notification. SJSU says the workers need to be gone by the end of June.
"Although President Whitmore's letter to the campus doesn't constitute formal layoff notice to the CSU Employees Union, it certainly provides an unequivocal heads-up that layoffs are very likely in the offing, and the union is ready to
deal with that possibility," said Steve Sloan, an information technology consultant at SJSU. "We are committed to saving as many jobs as possible by exploring all mitigation options with the administration."