Cal State layoffs reach SoCal campuses as budget tightens

A nearly $400 million proposed cut to California State University is beginning to have a ripple effect on campuses, including some in Southern California.

An email sent Friday by California State University, Dominguez Hills, President Thomas Parham announced layoffs at his campus.

“While these layoffs will be disruptive to our operations, the vast majority of our staff will remain employed at CSUDH,” Parham wrote, “continuing to provide the high level of support to our community that we are known for.”

The email did not say how many people were laid off.

The California State University Employees Union confirmed to LAist that 32 of its members were laid off. A union spokesperson said they are mostly probationary or temporary employees and that the notices are effective within the next 45 to 60 days.

Trustees get an earful at Tuesday meeting

CSU trustees heard complaints from employees and supporters of campuses where layoffs have taken place for more than an hour during their scheduled meeting on Tuesday in Long Beach.

Students walk on campus at Cal State Long Beach.

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Brian Feinzimer

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“I was just laid off from my position as a technical business analyst at CSU Dominguez Hills,” Ayumi Nakamoto told trustees via Zoom.

Her campus said the proposed cuts for next fiscal year translate to $12 million in reductions at Dominguez Hills.

“This decrease in funding will come on top of the $18.8 million that CSUDH has already reduced from its operating expenses over the past several years,” spokesperson Lilly McKibbin said via email.

Dropping enrollment, among other factors, led administrators to make the cuts, she said.

What about other local CSU campuses?

The Northridge and Long Beach Cal State campuses said they are not contemplating layoffs.

“While CSUN’s exact share of this reduction has not yet been determined, we roughly estimate this to be approximately $27 [million],” CSU Northridge spokesperson Carmen Chandler said in a statement.

Welcome sign for California State University Northridge.

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Ashley Balderrama

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“At the current time, we do not anticipate any layoffs for the 2025-26 fiscal year,” she said.

Cal State L.A. and Cal State Fullerton are also facing cuts. They did not make statements ruling out layoffs.

“Cal State Fullerton is aware of the financial situation across the Cal State University system. CSUF is planning and prepared for the fiscal year 2025-26,” said spokesperson Cerise Valenzuela Metzger.

Cal State L.A. President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said last November that the campus is facing a nearly $20 million deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Sonoma State was hit hard. Administrators there announced layoffs last week in an unsigned all-campus email. They said their projected deficit is nearly $24 million, about $3 million more than expected.

The email said 46 tenured and adjunct university professors, along with four management and a dozen staff positions would also be cut. The university also said several academic departments and programs will be combined, downsized or eliminated. (See the full list here.)

The deficit, the email said, was due to employee salaries, price increases for supplies and utilities and inflation — but the main reason is declining enrollment.

What is CSU saying?

Trustees are expecting an update on the proposed cuts Wednesday.

Carrying out cuts “undercuts CSU financial sustainability,” and that’s “unacceptable,” according to a staff document prepared for the session.

“Our leaders must know that the CSU is not an expense,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García told trustees on Tuesday.

“It is an investment not only to the students and their families, it is an investment to the vitality of California,” she said.

According to the report, 823 positions were cut between fall 2023 and fall 2024, but layoffs were higher on some campuses than others. While 17 universities reduced their workforce by 1,208 positions, the document said, six universities added 384 positions.

Next steps

The next stage of the budget process is the calculation of the state’s income tax revenue. That’ll be part of Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised version of his budget proposal in May. CSU is calling on its advocates to persuade lawmakers to reduce the cut to the university system before state legislators are required to approve a balanced budget on June 15.

García urged the public to listen to the Cal State board of trustees meeting on Wednesday for more information about the system's finances. You can watch the meeting here.