Dear CAS colleagues,
As you know, our college faces a $3.65 million budget deficit this fiscal year (FY25). As a result, we have made the difficult decision to eliminate approximately 42 positions across four CAS employee groups: officers of administration, classified staff, career faculty, and undergraduate student employees. (Graduate employees and tenure-track faculty are not included.) These actions will result in reduced expenses of approximately $3.5 million for CAS.
Affected employees were notified today, and we are committed to providing support to them and to approaching their transitions with care and respect.
The decision to eliminate these positions was not made lightly. We understand and deeply regret the impact the layoffs will have on those affected. Layoff decisions for FY25 were guided by the CAS Budget Reduction Principles, which were developed in consultation with faculty and administrative leaders across the college. Rather than applying across-the-board cuts, the reductions were made strategically, in consideration of core academic priorities, operational needs, and the ability of units to fulfill their missions with reduced staffing. That said, none of this makes the loss of colleagues and their positions any easier. I will share more information next week about our plans to ensure the continuity of our core functions in units affected by the reductions.
Human Resources and Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) staff are available to provide assistance and guidance throughout the transition period to those who seek support. Please reach out by email to hrinfo@uoregon.edu and/or uoelr@uoregon.edu for help. I am also attaching a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document to help answer additional questions you may have.
While these actions are incredibly difficult, they are necessary to ensure we can fulfill our commitments to students and to preserve CAS’s financial health during an unprecedented time for higher education in the US.
Looking ahead to FY26, we expect that additional reductions will be necessary and may include tenure-track positions and involve program closures. The UO is facing a significant structural budget deficit in the coming year, and as the university’s largest college, CAS will need to address a proportionate share of that shortfall. We are still in the planning phases, and no final decisions have been made about additional budget adjustments. CAS leadership and I will continue working over the summer to evaluate options and develop a strategic, measured, and compassionate approach to any future reductions. We will share more information in late summer or early fall.
These are undeniably challenging and uncertain times. As we navigate these challenges, I remain deeply grateful for all you are doing to advance our mission. Please show understanding, patience, and support to your colleagues during this transition.
Sincerely,
Chris
Chris J. Poulsen
Tykeson Dean of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Earth Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences | University of Oregon
1030 E. 13th Avenue | Eugene, OR | 97403
Pronouns: he/his
Who got the cut, exactly? And who was consulted? How “fair” was this process?
A friend got the cut today. She and one other in the Poulsen’s Deans office so I heard, the only classified staff in the office. No info on who else.
Hope she finds something new quickly. Not a great time to be without a job.
from United Academics email.
We learned that one of the faculty members to receive a layoff notice was Mike Urbancic, who is just finishing his term as President of United Academics. Mike has worked in the Economics department for 13 years and has been one of the most highly engaged faculty members across campus. For those of you who attend the Provost’s Teaching Academy, you will know Mike as a central figure in many initiatives to elevate teaching at the UO. For those of you who have had Mike as an instructor, you know he goes beyond the classroom to engage students through fun activities such as tabletop gaming clubs and after-hours movie screenings. Or perhaps you’ve crossed paths with Mike at UO’s Pine Mountain Observatory, excitedly showing off the wonders of the night sky to the visiting public.
Many of us know of Mike in his union-related roles—first as VP of Non-Tenure Track Instructional Faculty Affairs, and later as President. His engagement with not just faculty matters, but those issues affecting all workers on campus, has earned him respect across all corners of the university. Because of his long history of care towards the community of workers on campus, UA recently appointed him into the new position of VP for External Relations. Although classified as a Career faculty member, Mike has engaged in service for the university at the level of a tenured full professor. Each faculty member embodies a facet of the university’s mission. Mike represents many of our core values, including excellence in teaching and care for the health of the whole university community.