Sacramento State scraps college consolidation plan as it faces $37 million deficit
Sacramento State has canceled its plan to consolidate its seven colleges into four as the university faces a $37 million deficit, according to an email sent to faculty and staff on Tuesday.
In the email, which was signed by President Luke Wood and Provost Erika Cameron, Sacramento State stated this decision came as the university took “careful consideration and ongoing assessment of (its) fiscal situation.”
The statement acknowledged students and faculty raised concerns with the college consolidation, also known as the university’s Temporary Operational Control model. Previously, the California Faculty Association Capitol Chapter told The Sacramento Bee they were worried the college consolidation would overwork faculty as enrollment increases.
“We believe this decision provides greater stability for our campus community while we navigate these challenging times together. We remain committed to transparent communication and welcome your continued feedback as we move forward,” the email to faculty stated.
This choice comes a week after Sacramento State eliminated classes across its colleges due to the million dollars budget cut and increasing costs. Additionally, the university removed 28 management positions, implemented 15 layoffs and suggested a new mandatory student fee in hopes of balancing its budget.
“While we continue to face significant budgetary constraints, we believe that our current work on (management and professional personnel) reductions, position control implementation, course offerings, and division zero-based budgeting plans represents a more comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges,” the email read.
Wood originally proposed the college consolidation to save costs. The consolidation would have appointed one dean to oversee control over several colleges, according to past Bee reporting. Sacramento State did not address what action the university will take in the future to operate with budget cuts.
“To be clear: We have not yet achieved all necessary cost savings, and difficult decisions still lie ahead,” the email read. “However, we recognize that the TOC model has created considerable anxiety across our campus community, and we believe we can better address our fiscal responsibilities through other means.”
Wood and Cameron wrote while “immediate concerns have been addressed,” the university is “(continuing) to encourage” its departments to “explore opportunities for operational efficiencies that support our academic mission” and “identify possibilities for curricular synergy across disciplines.”
Sacramento State did not clarify how departments should look for “operational efficiencies” or look for “curricular synergy.”
In a statement provided to The Bee, Sacramento State stated as the university continues to face the state’s $375 million cut to the California State University system, they will “explore all possibilities to address these challenges.”
“The University remains committed to supporting the work of our students and faculty, fulfilling our mission to transform the lives of our students, and continuing to be a campus where everyone feels welcomed,” wrote Lanaya Lewis, a spokesperson for the university Thursday.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
