The New School has reduced its workforce by 87 people, according to Wwd. This includes 68 staffers and 19 full-time faculty members, a figure corroborated by Hyperallergic. Crucially, 10 of these faculty members held tenured positions, a detail specified by Artforum, marking a profound shift for the progressive arts institution.
The New School has long committed to academic excellence and faculty support. However, it now cuts tenured positions to address a severe financial crisis, redefining academic security. This action challenges its progressive identity.
Other universities facing similar enrollment and budget pressures are likely to follow suit with significant workforce reductions, potentially reshaping higher education employment.
What Are The New School Staff Reductions?
- The New School plans to reduce its workforce by 15% through layoffs and eliminating vacant positions, according to Higher Ed Dive.
- Fall enrollment at The New School fell 13.6% between 2021 and 2024, according to Higher Ed Dive.
- The staff reductions are aimed at closing a $60 million budget gap, according to Artforum.
- Ten of the 19 full-time faculty members affected by the layoffs were tenured, according to Artforum.
Why is The New School Facing Financial Challenges?
The New School aims to close a $60 million budget gap through its current workforce reductions, according to Artforum. This financial strain follows a significant enrollment decline. Fall enrollment at the institution fell 13.6% between 2021 and 2024, according to Higher Ed Dive.
This substantial drop in student numbers directly correlates with the institution's financial deficit. The New School plans to reduce its workforce by 15%, affecting approximately 465 positions from an estimated 3,100 employees in fall 2024, according to Higher Ed Dive. The 15% workforce reduction indicates a severe misalignment between operational costs and revenue streams.
