Almost one week after a letter from State University of New York at Fredonia President Stephen Kolison to staff and faculty that noted reductions would be coming in the near future, students were making their voice of opposition to the plans heard.

On Thursday afternoon, Students for Fredonia were planning a protest near Mason Hall and Reed Library to let administrators know they are unhappy with cuts to the teaching staff as well as the 13 majors that were announced as part of the “True Blue Transformation” last December. “The administration, unfortunately, went ahead with cutting the programs and then essentially heavily implied no faculty cuts would be made,” said Jasmine Johnson, a senior who is marking her third year on campus while handling public relations for the student group.

Johnson is an art history major, one of the programs that is being cut. She and others who reached out to the OBSERVER said at least three faculty positions in the art department were affected.

One position is being eliminated by September 2025 with another faculty member being told that post will no longer be staffed after September 2027. In addition, one retiree’s position in the arts department is not being filled.

These reductions have changed how Johnson views the energy on the campus. “I was a transfer student,” she said. “I saw how amazing Fredonia was because I had a lot of friends going here … and I’ve only seen it go downhill since I’ve gotten here. They keep cutting corners and amenities. It’s really frustrating because it was a magical and mystical place.”

Kolison’s letter last week outlined how the institution has been struggling with a structural deficit that topped $17 million in recent years and had been addressed through fund balances and federal COVID funding. At this time, however, those monies have been “exhausted” leading to reductions in majors and about five staff members.

“I want to stress that these decisions are not taken lightly,” Kolison wrote. “I know they are most difficult on those directly impacted. We will make every effort to assist impacted employees every way we can, and we have notified their respective bargaining representatives so that they can assist as well.”

Johnson said and the Students for Fredonia group said instead of reducing the teaching positions, higher-ranking and paying positions need to be looked at.

“Our biggest thing right now is where are the administration’s cuts?” she said.

Fredonia is not alone in its fiscal struggles. Other SUNY locations struggling include Potsdam, which announced layoffs last year, and Buffalo State, which is on the verge of eliminating 37 graduate and undergraduate programs as part of its plan to deal with a $16.5 million deficit.

SUNY Fredonia is one of Chautauqua County’s largest employers with more than its workforce number around 1,090.