Earlier this week, the MSU-Moorhead administration announced the proposed termination of more than 30 tenured, probationary, fixed-term, and adjunct faculty across 18 disciplines. We are alarmed by the MSUM administration’s proposal to layoff an unprecedented number of faculty and close 10 programs. These are difficult times for your colleagues to cope with the additional trauma and betrayal of retrenchment.

MSUM Faculty Association President Matt Craig said, “We will continue -- as we always have done -- to work tirelessly on behalf of our students. MSUM has been and will always be a place to get a high-quality education because of our faculty and staff. We will push the President to reverse as many of the announced layoffs as possible before they go into effect. These layoffs will fundamentally weaken MSU Moorhead’s capability to serve students and our community. We are incredibly proud of the hard work of our faculty through this difficult time and wish the threat of layoffs was not added to an already stressful spring.”

The IFO has absolute confidence in the leadership of the MSUM Faculty Association and a large group of highly engaged faculty on that campus to lead the struggle in saving programs, jobs, and the future of the institution.

The IFO is also concerned with the impact on faculty diversity in the proposed cuts. We also see the removal of race/gender/sexuality equity and social justice curriculum and related programs as problematic. The IFO will remain active leaders of the Equity 2030 initiative and see the presence of significant racial and cultural diversity among faculty and in our curriculum as an essential component in effectively serving students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students. The faculty of our State universities are passionately committed to meeting the higher education needs of every resident of Minnesota.

Unfortunately, these proposed retrenchments will have an impact on the equity and inclusion work of the IFO statewide. Our Equity and Inclusion Coordinator was included as part of the proposed retrenchments. I know this is a significant blow to the morale of many members, particularly our caucus members and leaders who have worked so ardently to transform our union to be more just and equitable. I want to let all of our members know that although this is a setback to this important work, the IFO remains committed to challenging systemic oppression and empowering faculty from historically marginalized groups. Faculty must be empowered to foster learning communities that respect the inherent worth and dignity of all students, faculty, and staff based on values of justice, inclusion, and equity. Faculty are the fundamental agents of change at our universities and in our communities. Our members will continue to drive enrollments and set the cultural and intellectual standards at our institutions.

All of our universities are facing difficult economic and enrollment challenges, the potential for a severe crisis. Without action, I’m afraid retrenchment and drastic budget cuts will be the most impactful we have seen over the last twenty years. Faculty have always played a critical role in the recruitment and retention of students and this role has never been more important than it is now. We cannot let this pandemic exacerbate our state-wide enrollment crisis, which compounds our campus budget crises. Students choose MinnState universities for an opportunity at a better life. They stay and complete their degree because of the valuable work of faculty and a strong connection to their fellow students, professors, coaches, librarians, and counselors. Retaining our current students and securing the incoming class for the fall, 2020, will be essential for our students’ aspirations and vital to the long-term health of our institutions.
Enrollment is in everybody’s interest, therefore, faculty who are willing and able, are encouraged to amend their Professional Development Plan (PDP) to increase emphasis on criteria 4 and 5 with efforts to retain and recruit students.

IFO leaders from across the state will coordinate closely with MSUM leadership to advocate for changes to these proposed retrenchments. There is no doubt that fewer faculty will mean fewer course offerings which will mean longer wait times for students to graduate and a reduction in the types of programs we can offer. As is the case any time we reduce the number of faculty on our campuses - the long-term impacts will weigh heaviest on students and the communities we serve.