Facing an $18 million budget deficit for next fiscal year, Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest historically Black university, said it will cut 79 positions from its workforce.
According to a message from Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux, the university plans to cut those jobs through a combination of vacancies, reorganization and layoffs. The school currently has slightly more than 1,100 employees and a $222 million budget.
The letter says the deficit comes from a combination of factors such as reduced funding from the federal and state governments, a decrease in student enrollment, but an increase in employee benefits, utilities and “essential technology.”
“These decisions are being made through a comprehensive and deliberate process and will adhere to all applicable laws, policies and collective bargaining agreements,” Breaux wrote in the Tuesday letter that was also signed by Guy-Alain Amoussou, BSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Manish Kumar, the vice president for administration and finance.
“We recognize that this is difficult news,” the letter said. “Please know that these decisions are not a reflection of the dedication and excellence you bring to Bowie State each day but rather the result of significant financial challenges that we must address to ensure the university’s long-term viability.”
Due to revenue constraints, a warning was presented in a PowerPoint presentation in March that the school would not “call for new initiatives” for fiscal 2027.
The school faced a $13.6 million budget deficit in the current fiscal year, but was able to avoid layoffs through delays in hiring, elimination of vacant positions and other factors.
The school will hold a budget forum at the student ballroom at 10 a.m. May 15, exactly one week before spring commencement ceremonies on the campus.
Bowie State is not the only university in the state facing financial challenges. The state’s flagship, the of Maryland, College Park, on April 27 announced a hiring freeze for all positions through June 30, and the elimination of up to 150 positions through unfilled vacancies, retirements and layoffs.
The letter was signed by university President Darryll Pines, Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice and Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Greg Oler.
“This is not an easy message to send, and we know that this news causes concern for all of us,” the three wrote. “Our people are the foundation of this university, and the prospect of workforce reductions is difficult. We recognize the impact these decisions will have on our community. As we move forward, we will continue to pursue additional strategies to reduce costs and strengthen revenues.”
Several community colleges are also feeling the impact of tight budgets while union leaders at places such as Harford Community College continue to negotiate cost-of-living increases. Union members plan to bring their concerns of unsuccessful contract negotiations before the college’s Board of Trustees during a 6 p.m. meeting next Tuesday.
“We’re proud to work in our community, with adults who are exploring their futures and career possibilities,” union President Scott West said in a statement Thursday. “We want to offer them consistency, but that can be difficult when we suffer in a system that leaves faculty wondering what their finances will look like from one year to the next. We used to have a system where that was possible and we want it back.”
