June 4, 2025

Dear Staff and Faculty Colleagues, 

I write to provide a brief summary of the information discussed at the 8:30 a.m. open meeting today. As we shared a few weeks ago in our open forums and post-board meeting letter, the college faces a new budgetary shortfall for the coming year of approximately $3 million, due to challenges in recruiting students that are impacting Whitman and many other colleges and universities across the country.

The cabinet has been working to find thoughtful and responsible ways to address this challenge, and will be discussing those with the board of trustees before the end of June. Unfortunately, this is not just a one-year or two-year issue, for several reasons. First, the class that we just recruited will be with us for four years. Furthermore, the demographic trends that drive decreases in numbers of students going to college will continue, and new factors such as changes in State Department rules for international students will likely deepen these challenges. Finally, the increasing pressures on higher education from both demographic and federal policy changes are creating an ever-more competitive environment for recruiting students, especially students who have some family resources that they can contribute to the cost of their education. As a result of all of these factors, we know that we need to plan for budgetary reductions both for next year and for the longer-term.

In today’s meeting, we shared the following proposed approach to addressing the $3 million gap in next year’s budget, which the cabinet has developed for discussion today with faculty and staff, and for presentation to the board of trustees later in June. The proposed approach includes approximately $1.75 million in one-time funds, including the use of a portion of our net operating revenue reserve. Of the remaining $1.25 million, approximately $1 million comes from compensation reductions, and the remainder from reduction of non-compensation operating costs.

There are two components of this proposed plan that are especially difficult—layoffs of staff who are in positions that would be discontinued, and the reduction of some salaries. The excellent work of Whitman’s staff and faculty is the foundation of our college, and we want to do all we can to support the people who make Whitman possible. Unfortunately, given the ongoing financial challenges, we will have to find ways to operate with a somewhat smaller number of employees. The cabinet is working to determine where it may be possible to stop doing certain work, or to restructure efforts. As a result, some positions will be eliminated, and the staff currently in those positions will be laid off. The people in these positions do valued and hard work, and while their positions will no longer exist at the college, they will very much be missed.

Summary of proposed approach to $3 million in savings for fiscal year 2026.

1. Use a portion of the net operating revenue reserve. (Because there is such significant uncertainty in the impact of changing federal policies, we are holding some of the reserve aside so that we can manage additional challenges that may come mid-year.) Savings: $350,000.
2. Reduce expenditures on life-cycle maintenance projects for one year. Savings: Approximately $600,000.
3. Cancel some previously-approved capital projects funded by the fiscal year 2025 operating surplus. Savings: Approximately $800,000.
4. Staffing and Compensation reductions:
   1. 10–15 planned staff layoffs.
   2. Leave several open staff and visiting/adjunct faculty positions unfilled.
   3. Salary reductions for some employees. Most employees were scheduled to receive pay increases of at least 2% for fiscal year 2026, with some employees receiving increases that honored recent promotions or equity adjustments. Under the savings plan the President's Cabinet will propose to the Board of Trustees, there would be the following salary reductions.
      1. Those whose pay is less than $70,000/year will not see any reduction in their salaries.
      2. Those whose pay is over $70,000/year but who are not Cabinet members will generally see a reduction in their salaries by 1%. [Example: a staff member was paid $100,000 this year. For next year, they got a 2% raise, and so their salary would be $102,000. With the 1% reduction, their salary will instead be $101,000 next year.]
      3. Cabinet members’ salaries will be reduced by 2%.
      4. The President’s salary will be reduced by 10%.
   4. Savings: Approximately $1,000,000.

5. Reductions in general operating (i.e., non-compensation) budgets by the vice presidents. Savings: Approximately $250,000.

Final decisions about these proposals will take place after discussion with the trustees later in June.

We know that the well-being of those who experience layoffs is of particular concern to many people, as they are to the cabinet. Individuals who are laid off receive severance pay according to the college’s severance policy, which provides a minimum of four weeks of pay for those with four years or less of service to the college, and one week of severance pay per year of service for those with more than four years of service. Layoffs will take place in June, and will be completed and communicated by the end of the month. 

This is a complex time across higher education and at Whitman, and we are committed to upholding our mission and values and to continuing to offer a superb liberal arts education to students from across the country and around the world. As we navigate the challenges ahead, we will continue to work with as much collaboration and transparency as possible. My gratitude goes to all of you who have shared ideas and input in recent weeks; the ways we work together will continue to be the center of our strength and resilience as a college. We have developed some additional detailed responses to frequently asked questions, which you can find here.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. We will be in touch again at the end of June with a summary of the final decisions, following the meeting with the trustees.

Sincerely, and with gratitude,

Sarah Bolton