Updates from Sandra Haynes Regarding WSUV’s 15% Budget Reduction

Sandra Haynes, former WSUV Interim Chancellor and now current Executive Vice President for WSU Statewide Campuses, sent four consecutive emails regarding the budget reduction for the upcoming year and its effects on WSUV. As stated by OPB, WSUV is facing a $6 million budget decrease, which is about half of the almost $12 million budget decrease for the entire university system. These emails follow a statement made in March of this year during a meeting with students by WSU President, Elizabeth Cantwell. “Our state funding is dropping; it will not go up. Not for some time. 

The fourth and final email was sent at the time of writing this article, on Wednesday, June 24th. Haynes stated that “all faculty members directly affected by the budget reduction plan have now been notified. In addition, renewal letters for term faculty have been sent.” She emphasized that she understands this process is difficult, and WSU is “continuing to move forward carefully and in accordance with university policies, collective bargaining agreements, and the employment rights and protections afforded to employees of the State of Washington.”  

The first email, sent on Monday, June 1st, discussed the institution–wide budget reductions, stating that WSUV would experience a 15% reduction, as announced by the Board of Regents, following their meeting on May 18th. Haynes clarified that WSU’s leadership team is working on a plan to meet reduction requirements that maintain “students and our mission at the center of our decisions.” 

A second email was sent to WSUV students and faculty on Friday, June 19th, regarding the approved FY27 (2027 budget). Haynes stated that the WSU budget office approved the WSUV budget reduction plan and were beginning implementation. She provided the confidential support number through the Employee Assistance program at 877-313-4455 (Employees may also visit the EAP website), and ended the email thanking recipients for their “continued resilience and commitment to WSU Vancouver and the students we serve.” She also emphasized that organizational changes of leadership are separate from the budget reduction process and have their own goals and timelines. 

The third email was sent on Monday, June 22nd, with the intention of reaching all recipients who may have missed the previous email due to the Juneteenth holiday. Haynes summarized information from the June 19th email and provided more clarifying information. She acknowledged that these reductions have brought anxiety to members of WSUV, and that she and her leadership team have “approached these decisions with great care, guided by a commitment to minimize impacts to students, research, and, to the extent possible, employees.”  

She clarified how the reductions are being implemented, stating that no academic programs are being affected, but approximately 38% of reductions affecting Full-Time Employees (FTE) are from vacant positions (including two administrative roles that will not be filled), 14% of FTE reductions are from voluntary separations, and 48% are from non-voluntary workforce reductions (termination of staff).  

Haynes explained that the WSUV budget reductions are not being used to support other campuses or their operational expenses but did not clarify what the newly unbudgeted money will be allocated to.