PETITION TO STOP LAYOFFS AND CUTS AT CSUCI 

To: CSUCI Administration, California State University Leadership, and State Legislators 

We, the undersigned faculty, staff, students, and community allies, strongly oppose the proposed faculty layoffs and ongoing budget cuts at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI). These actions jeopardize educational quality, threaten the livelihoods of faculty and staff, and undermine the university's long-term sustainability. 

The administration’s plan to "right-size" the campus includes a hiring freeze, voluntary buyouts, and ultimately, layoffs if not enough employees leave on their own. While campus leadership claims this is necessary due to budget shortfalls, the true crisis lies in years of administrative mismanagement, enrollment declines, and an over-reliance on tuition revenue rather than seeking sustainable funding solutions. 

Why We Oppose These Cuts: 

Laying off faculty will further hurt enrollment – Students will only come to CSUCI if there are courses available. Cutting classes makes it harder for students to graduate on time, driving even more enrollment declines in a vicious cycle. 

Faculty and staff have already borne the brunt of cuts – The non-reappointment of part-time lecturer faculty in recent years has already hurt instruction quality and resulted in job and healthcare losses for dedicated educators. 

Administrative bloat should be addressed first – CSUCI has seen significant administrative growth, with management positions increasing by 39% since 2013. A true solution should start by reducing unnecessary administrative costs, not faculty positions that directly impact students. 

CSUCI’s mission and community are at risk – The university was founded to serve underrepresented and first-generation students in Ventura County. If academic programs shrink and faculty are lost, CSUCI’s ability to fulfill its mission will be severely compromised. 

Cuts now will create long-term damage – Short-term layoffs may balance the budget temporarily, but they will weaken CSUCI’s reputation, further lower enrollment, and lead to even deeper financial crises in the future. 

We call on CSUCI leadership to: 

Halt any planned faculty and staff layoffs. 

Prioritize administrative reductions before cutting instructional and student-support positions. 

Work with state legislators to secure additional funding instead of placing the burden on faculty, staff, and students. 

Develop long-term strategies to increase enrollment without diminishing the quality of education. 

CSUCI is more than just numbers on a budget sheet—it is a community, a hub of opportunity, and a critical institution for higher learning in our region. We demand a responsible and fair approach to budget challenges that does not sacrifice the people who make this university great. 

Sign below to support this cause and protect CSUCI’s future!