June 24, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

I write to provide an update on how we are addressing the budget gap of approximately $3 million that Whitman College faces for next year. The Board of Trustees has approved the proposal that I shared with you on June 4th, which includes both the use of reserves and other one-time funds, as well as some ongoing reductions in expenses, as the reduced resources are expected to be ongoing over multiple years.

While higher education faces a number of challenges, we are committed to providing a superb liberal arts education both now and for the future. Whitman’s excellent staff and faculty make that education possible. Colleagues across the college have worked thoughtfully over the course of this year to determine how to advance our mission and values with fewer resources than we have had in the past. The cabinet has picked up that work in recent weeks as the larger budgetary challenge for next year became clear when we received the incoming class numbers in May. 

Accomplishing our mission with fewer resources requires that we rethink many aspects of our work, including finding ways to operate with a somewhat smaller number of employees. The cabinet has been working to determine where it may be possible to stop doing certain activities, or to restructure efforts, and some positions have been eliminated. While much of this restructuring took place through the elimination of vacant staff positions over the past year, it has also, very regrettably, required some layoffs. Ten staff members have had their positions eliminated, and one staff member’s position has been restructured with a change in hours. As of yesterday evening, those individuals have all been informed of this news.

I want to be clear that the elimination of these positions is not a reflection of the good and important work of the staff members who held them. These colleagues have made countless contributions to the college through their dedication and hard work, in some cases over decades. They will very much be missed. Each of the decisions to eliminate a position was difficult and taken very seriously because of the impact on the staff members and the community. Those who have been laid off are being supported through our severance policy and through extended supportive benefits through the Employee Assistance Program (Canopy).

Information about an individual’s employment is private by law, and so we cannot provide a public list of the positions eliminated. However, I can share that restructuring of work has touched every area of the college—both through the elimination of a dozen vacant positions over the course of the past year and through the layoffs that took place this month. Cabinet members will be in touch with those in their areas to talk about how work will be restructured and what activities will be discontinued. The intention is to collaborate over time, so that workloads do not grow beyond full-time or over-stretch departments or individuals. 

As described in the proposal discussed with faculty and staff on June 4th and approved by the Board of Trustees, there will also be a 1% reduction in salaries that were previously planned to take effect on July 1. This reduction does not apply to employees who make a 1.0 full-time equivalent annualized salary of less than $70,000 per year. Letters will be delivered to affected employees’ campus mailboxes today, indicating the new salaries that will take effect with the start of the fiscal year. (Additional salary reductions for the cabinet and the president were also approved, as described in the proposal.)

I know that this is a difficult time for many members of the Whitman community, and that the uncertainty around layoffs has been especially stressful over the past several weeks. My deep gratitude goes to all who have been so supportive to those most impacted.

I will hold an open session for staff and faculty (with Zoom option) on Monday, June 30th, from 8:30–9:30 am, to answer any questions you may have. (We are working on a location and will share that by the end of the week.) Whether you participate in person or via Zoom, you are welcome to ask questions during the meeting, or to submit them here in advance. 

Next year, we will focus on moving the College forward in ways that inspire students to choose Whitman, while also continuing to address financial pressures. I am inspired by the thoughtfulness that faculty and staff are bringing to this important work. The transformative experiences that students have at Whitman are life-changing, and our graduates make a difference in the world. Especially at a time of challenge for higher education, your dedication and care for our college and our students is meaningful and deeply impactful, both on our campus and far beyond it. 

Sincerely,

Sarah Bolton