Stockton University Unions Push Back Against Layoffs Amid Budget Gap
Unions at Stockton University are asking administrators to reconsider layoffs planned to close a $25 million deficit. The school blamed declining enrollment, reduced state funding, and rising costs, and notices went to 14 faculty and seven professional staff members. Another union was also told some members would be laid off, and protests were planned around the president's State of the University address.
The Stockton Federation of Teachers, part of the American Federation of Teachers, said administrators notified it Tuesday that 14 faculty and seven professional staff would receive layoff notices. Communication Workers of America Local 1031 also learned some of its members face cuts, though the total is unclear.
The planned reductions are meant to address a $25 million shortfall attributed to shrinking enrollment, lower state support, and higher costs. SFT and the Council of New Jersey State College Locals intended to demonstrate after President Joe Bertolino's State of the University address Thursday. SFT president Tara Luke, a biology professor with 22 years at Stockton, said she had not previously seen layoff threats there and flagged understaffing.
If the layoffs proceed, students at Stockton may see larger classes, fewer course options, or reduced support services, while affected faculty and staff could face income loss and career disruption. The dispute may also intensify broader debates over how public colleges balance budgets amid enrollment and funding pressures. Local communities and New Jersey's higher-education system could feel ripple effects if similar cuts spread, though the ultimate impact remains uncertain.