Sonoma State University plans to eliminate its Women’s and Gender Studies department to close a $23.9 million deficit. The decision follows earlier budget cuts, including the cancellation of athletics and multiple academic programs, as the school faces a 38 percent drop in enrollment since 2015. A judge has temporarily halted the academic cuts, citing failures in procedural process.
The California State University campus in Rohnert Park announced in January that six departments—including Women’s and Gender Studies—would be removed as part of a sweeping budget reduction. Other targeted programs include Art History, Economics, Geology, Philosophy, and Theatre/Dance. University officials cited unsustainable costs and declining student interest.
The cuts affect staffing as well, with 46 faculty contracts—tenured and adjunct—set to expire, along with 30 additional lecturer positions. Sonoma State also ended its NCAA Division II athletics programs earlier this year. Interim President Emily Cutrer pointed to rising costs for supplies, personnel, and utilities, in addition to falling enrollment, as driving the fiscal crisis.
In April, Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Kenneth English issued a temporary restraining order halting the academic eliminations. The ruling found that the university bypassed required internal procedures, including consultation with the Academic Senate. While the order does not affect athletic cuts or layoffs, it blocks the program closures pending further court review.
