Tag: SSU

Sonoma State University Interim President Emily Cutrer sat down with Press Democrat reporters Friday in her first media appearance since the Jan. 22 announcement of millions of dollars in budget cuts. Those cuts include faculty and staff layoffs and the elimination of intercollegiate athletics, as well as some academic departments and degree programs.

Cutrer expressed compassion for the campus community’s shock, anger and grief but was resolute that the cuts were a last and necessary resort to address SSU’s $24 million deficit.

“A lot of the programs that we will be losing have done everything right in terms of the education,” she said, “But we’re in a financial crisis. And, it’s not just us. We’re on the leading edge of dealing with it, but you’re going to see more or less the same thing going on at different institutions around the nation.”

Cutrer also responded to criticism that SSU leadership has failed to articulate a clear vision for the institution going forward, or strategies to revive enrollment, under the specter of deep cuts and crisis.

She discussed a lack of recruitment and marketing in the past, and a plan to double down on relationships with community colleges and high schools, attract older students and cater academic offerings to the needs of local businesses.

“We need to be out there in the community doing even more than we are right now, which means more and more community partnerships,” she said. “We’ve got some, but we need more.”

Look out for the full interview in the Press Democrat’s Sunday edition in print and online.

You can reach “In Your Corner” Columnist Marisa Endicott at 707-521-5470 or marisa.endicott@pressdemocrat.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @InYourCornerTPD and Facebook @InYourCornerTPD.