Savannah State University is laying off 26 non-tenured faculty members at the end of the academic year, which it says is necessary to balance its financial books.
The university’s enrollment is down for a second consecutive year, according to a news release posted on its website late Friday. Last fall, Savannah State had 4,429 students, a 10.6 percent drop from the prior year. Enrollment is down this year by nearly 8 percent, according to the release.
Eighteen of the 26 faculty members work in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. Four are in the College of Business Administration and the remaining work teach in the College of Sciences and Technology.
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President Cheryl Dozier warned last month cuts were coming. Savannah State's total budget declined from nearly $121 million from the fiscal year that ended June 30 to about $107 million this fiscal year, according to state data.
The enrollment decline will impact Savannah State’s funding for the next two budget cycles, officials said. State funding allocations are calculated annually on a two-year lag.
The release said the unnamed faculty members can apply for positions at Savannah State as they open or other colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia.
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