The recent budget cuts implemented by Portland State University’s administration under the leadership of President Ann Cudd have already resulted in the elimination of programs, non-renewal notices effectively terminating dozens of adjuncts, and a wave of layoffs affecting nearly 100 non-tenure track full-time faculty. But what do these controversial cuts mean for students? A joint report released by PSU’s faculty labor unions details the impacts already affecting students and the potential future outcomes of the sweeping cuts proposed by admin.
Supporters hold signs in protest of cuts to student services at PSU, photo courtesy PSU Vanguard
The report, which was released by PSUFA, PSU-AAUP, and GEU on October 31 of this year, found that cuts would have significant negative impacts on already insufficient student services including advising and mental health counseling. These impacts would likely fall most heavily on marginalized student groups, such as students needing disability accommodation, English language learners, and and those who identify with minoritized racial and ethnic groups. The report points out that chronic understaffing is already an issue in many student-facing departments, with some students being forced to wait up to four weeks to meet with an advisor and up to nine months to receive disability accommodations support. Especially poignant is the fact that “the CARE Team, a group that supports students in crises, has only two staff,” even as student mental health needs are on the rise and in the shadow of an on-campus student suicide that took place at the start of this fall term.
Cuts to critical student services are being demanded by the administration despite consistently rising tuition and fees. Students have begun pushing back, protesting at a recent Student Fee Committee budget meeting. In addition to the detrimental effects on learning of reduced and precarious faculty, limited course offerings, and enlarged class sizes, PSU’s program of extreme across-the-board cuts fails to serve our institution’s core mission, and most importantly, fails the students who come here seeking a high-quality educational experience in a supportive environment.
Read the full report here, and let us know what you think! Have you noticed a decrease in the quality and availability of student services due to the cuts? Are you concerned about PSU’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students? Email psufa.martha@gmail.com and share your thoughts!