The Gallaudet AAUP has verified reports of sudden employee layoffs. These layoffs are surprising, given that just last September 27, President Cordano publicly declared, “I would never say that [Gallaudet] is out of money” [see video at 56:35]. Supporting President Cordano’s remarks, the Gallaudet AAUP’s external audit of Gallaudet’s finances also confirms that the university is in strong financial shape.
Layoffs should only be considered as a last resort, with every effort made to place employees in new roles. Surprisingly, we received news of these layoffs on the same day as President Cordano’s January 31, 2024 State of the University address. In this prepackaged video, she said nothing about job cuts. Instead, she delivered a metaphorical lecture on the American bison’s foraging and social habits. Emails from two other administrators later that day mentioned changing “roles and responsibilities,” but they did not warn of layoffs. The Gallaudet AAUP executive committee chose to delay writing an open letter until after the #WeAreGallaudet session after the State of the University Address, knowing that some chapter members submitted questions about the layoffs to be answered that day. However, during the event held on February 7, 2024, administrators still did not directly address the layoffs and instead gave an overview of current financial difficulties.
Gallaudet AAUP asserts that the administration has not been transparent or forthcoming about these staff layoffs. We believe that the administration is failing in its duty to protect the welfare of its employees and is not accepting accountability for the financial decisions that are creating budget overruns. Finally, we question whether the administration is considering the needs of our students, who will likely be impacted by mid-semester layoffs. The Gallaudet AAUP stands in solidarity with our staff, recognizing their importance to the student experience.
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The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) defends academic freedom, promotes shared governance, and advances the economic security of faculty. The Gallaudet AAUP chapter is a member of Local 6741 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO.
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