Portland State University announces 17 faculty layoffs amid budget cuts

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Portland State University announced Friday that 17 of their non-tenure track faculty will be laid off "due to changes in their departments’ programmatic and curricular needs."

The faculty will be let go from their positions at the end of the academic year, as the university faces a $80 million budget deficit and a steady decrease in student enrollment.

The university had warned that around 90 layoffs could be coming earlier in the fall, with PSU President Ann Cudd saying notifications could come in 2025. These layoffs were likely to include tenure track faculty and others, such as financial aid advisers and counselors.

In a letter sent to faculty and students from Cudd and Provost Shelly Chabon on Friday, they disclosed that 23 faculty members had accepted incentive packages to retire.

However, in addition to the layoffs and retirements, programs throughout the university are also being considered for “moratorium or elimination."

While the letter did not state which programs were considered at this time, both Cudd and Chabon noted, "Academic leaders are now reviewing these programs to understand their impacts and to ensure that all enrolled students will receive support to complete their degrees."

The university said further information on those plans will be shared in the coming months.