Valdosta State University has laid off 33 faculty and staff, including tenure-track faculty. In addition, 18 positions from last school year were not filled, bringing the total number of eliminated positions to 51. Twenty-six of these positions were from the College of Arts and Sciences. The University cites low enrollment as necessitating these cuts.

Similarly, Ashland University in Ohio, cites financial exigency as the reason for laying off 23 instructors, including some tenured faculty.

The American Association of University Professors cites ” a demonstrably bona fide financial exigency” as one justification for terminating tenured faculty.

For more information, see

“Valdosta State Blues” inInside Higher Edathttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/08/11/faculty-layoffs-absence-financial-exigency-spark-ire-valdosta-state-uand

“‘Bright Future’ Layoffs” athttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/08/17/ashland-university-lays-tenured-faculty-calls-financial-future-bright

“Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure,” AAUP, athttp://www.aaup.org/report/recommended-institutional-regulations-academic-freedom-and-tenure