A sign marks the site of a San Diego State University Imperial Valley campus in Brawley, Calif., Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
San Diego, CA – San Diego State University (SDSU) has announced an immediate hiring freeze as the institution grapples with potential budget reductions stemming from both federal and state funding uncertainties. SDSU President Adela de la Torre revealed the measure in a letter to faculty and staff on March 20, outlining the university’s proactive approach to navigate the challenging financial landscape.
The decision comes amidst a broader trend among universities nationwide, as they brace for potential federal funding cuts. Notably, the University of California (UC) system recently implemented a similar hiring freeze, citing executive orders and California’s proposed budget as primary drivers.
President de la Torre’s letter highlighted the California State University (CSU) system’s projected 7.95% budget reduction, a consequence of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget released in January. In response, SDSU is implementing a hiring freeze for the majority of faculty and staff positions, with exceptions made for essential roles.
“While the hiring chill is effective immediately for MPP (management personnel positions) and staff positions, current active tenure-track searches for academic year (AY) 2025-26 starts will not be impacted,” de la Torre clarified. “However, the hiring chill will impact tenure and tenure track faculty searches for faculty who would start in AY 2026-27.”
Beyond the hiring freeze, SDSU is implementing further cost-saving measures. University divisions are tasked with reducing expenditures through curtailing non-essential travel, postponing multi-year projects, and identifying additional areas for budgetary adjustments.
President de la Torre emphasized the university’s commitment to mitigating the impact on its workforce. “This approach, combined with our one-time revenue streams, will allow us to avoid and prevent the campus-wide layoffs we see elsewhere,” she stated.
The hiring freeze and subsequent cost-cutting initiatives underscore the financial pressures facing higher education institutions in the current economic climate. SDSU’s proactive measures aim to ensure the university’s fiscal stability while minimizing disruption to its academic and administrative operations. The university will continue to monitor the evolving budgetary landscape and adapt its strategies accordingly.
