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News and Analysis about Sonoma State University
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Legislators: The law requires that you reinstate Division 2 Athletics at SSU. Will you commit to doing so?
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
No wonder the search details were so secret. The sole job qualification was "demonstrated obedience to the Chancellor's Office." #FireMildredGarcia #ReplaceTheCSUBoardOfTrustees
Michael Spagna named new Sonoma State president after turbulent year for university
The long-awaited announcement comes as Sonoma State University faces a major transformation amid $24 million in budget cuts but also a $90 million state windfall to rescue and reorient the embattle…
www.pressdemocrat.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:48 AM
No wonder the search details were so secret. The sole job qualification was "demonstrated obedience to the Chancellor's Office." #FireMildredGarcia #ReplaceTheCSUBoardOfTrustees
Unless the new President repudiates and repairs what the old President did, it won't matter. SSU needs to be more vocational? SRJC has Art, Art History, Theater, and Dance. This was never about vocations. This was about destroying SSU. And that program is still being executed. #FireMildredGarcia
Majors | Curriculum
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curriculum.santarosa.edu
November 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Unless the new President repudiates and repairs what the old President did, it won't matter. SSU needs to be more vocational? SRJC has Art, Art History, Theater, and Dance. This was never about vocations. This was about destroying SSU. And that program is still being executed. #FireMildredGarcia
Good news, the problem with the Admissions Office has been solved. Now, let's get to the REAL problem: Making sure that there is something to be admitted to. Reinstate Philosophy, Geology, Art History, Theater, Dance, Language, WGS, Athletics, Physics, Economics, etc.
Gov. Newsom signs bill automatically admitting qualified graduates to the CSU
SB 640 takes effect beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.
www.pressdemocrat.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Good news, the problem with the Admissions Office has been solved. Now, let's get to the REAL problem: Making sure that there is something to be admitted to. Reinstate Philosophy, Geology, Art History, Theater, Dance, Language, WGS, Athletics, Physics, Economics, etc.
Money rates SSU one of America's Best Colleges. If SSU's administration commits to a program of academic and administrative excellence, including hiring the best people, not the most needy people, because the mission matters, rather than competing with its vocational neighbor SRJC, it might be true.
Sonoma State University, CA - Complete Profile, Rankings and Data
Everything you need to know about Sonoma State University, CA, including acceptance rate, graduation rates, average cost, financial aid, alumni salaries, and more.
money.com
September 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Money rates SSU one of America's Best Colleges. If SSU's administration commits to a program of academic and administrative excellence, including hiring the best people, not the most needy people, because the mission matters, rather than competing with its vocational neighbor SRJC, it might be true.
$90M. But still no way to restore Philosophy, Theater, Dance, or Art History, or to even discuss it. They want to turn SSU into a vocational school. But even junior colleges with vocational programs, like SRJC, have Theater and Art programs. Nothing makes sense.
Another $45 million in aid for cash-strapped Sonoma State University on the way
The windfall, announced Monday by state Sen. Mike McGuire, is the second $45 million infusion announced for Sonoma State in the last 50 days.
www.pressdemocrat.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
$90M. But still no way to restore Philosophy, Theater, Dance, or Art History, or to even discuss it. They want to turn SSU into a vocational school. But even junior colleges with vocational programs, like SRJC, have Theater and Art programs. Nothing makes sense.
Legislators: The law requires that you reinstate Division 2 Athletics at SSU. Will you commit to doing so?
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
August 12, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Legislators: The law requires that you reinstate Division 2 Athletics at SSU. Will you commit to doing so?
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
Cutrer: No.
The defiance expressed in this meeting is the voice of Mildred Garcia speaking through her meat-shield, Emily Cutrer. Change will have to start at the top. #DissolveCSUTrustees
Assembly member Chris Rogers discusses the implementation plan.
August 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Assembly member Chris Rogers discusses the implementation plan.
Senate President Mike McGuire discusses $9M in discretionary funds that can be used to restore programs.
August 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Senate President Mike McGuire discusses $9M in discretionary funds that can be used to restore programs.
Assembly member Chris Cabaldon describes the extraordinary budget commitment from the legislature:
August 11, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Assembly member Chris Cabaldon describes the extraordinary budget commitment from the legislature:
Almost ready to begin.
August 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Almost ready to begin.
Live from the SSU legislative hearings. Someone thinks we don’t care. We care. It’s Standing Room Only.
August 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Live from the SSU legislative hearings. Someone thinks we don’t care. We care. It’s Standing Room Only.
We'll be there today. I hope the legislators are as angry as we are. CSU lied, they said the cuts were due to the budget, but then when the legislators restored the budget, they made the cuts anyway. This is public corruption. It is lies. It is misappropriation of funds. CSU Board of Trustees.
North Bay legislators to discuss allocation of $45 million windfall at SSU forum
Advocates for canceled Women’s & Gender Studies Dept. criticized lawmakers, SSU administrators for scheduling meeting on short notice, while faculty and students “have not yet returned to campus.”
www.pressdemocrat.com
August 11, 2025 at 7:25 PM
We'll be there today. I hope the legislators are as angry as we are. CSU lied, they said the cuts were due to the budget, but then when the legislators restored the budget, they made the cuts anyway. This is public corruption. It is lies. It is misappropriation of funds. CSU Board of Trustees.
Cutrer's disastrous leadership: "The school will have to rebuild its entire athletic department from scratch, including hiring a new athletic director, coaches, administrative support staff and recruiting enough athletes to field at least 10 teams, to be eligible for full NCAA membership."
SSU supporters left to wonder if sports will return even after state windfall
One day after news of the $45 million infusion, SSU’s interim president said sports won’t be back next year. Beyond, there’s much in debate.
www.pressdemocrat.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Cutrer's disastrous leadership: "The school will have to rebuild its entire athletic department from scratch, including hiring a new athletic director, coaches, administrative support staff and recruiting enough athletes to field at least 10 teams, to be eligible for full NCAA membership."
"Whatever fraction of the $9 million in discretionary funds ends up being spent to undo Cutrer’s sweeping reductions, it’s likely to disappoint...faculty and hundreds of students who’ve been organizing and protesting since January to restore programs and bring back downsized professors."
‘Game changer’ or stopgap? $45 million windfall for SSU gets mixed reactions
The rescue package comes with strict instructions on how funds must be spent, limiting opportunities to restore academic departments on the chopping block since January.
www.pressdemocrat.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"Whatever fraction of the $9 million in discretionary funds ends up being spent to undo Cutrer’s sweeping reductions, it’s likely to disappoint...faculty and hundreds of students who’ve been organizing and protesting since January to restore programs and bring back downsized professors."
Cutrer's disastrous leadership led to this tragedy: "Although the deal includes $8 million over three years for Seawolves athletics, none of the teams is expected to return to the playing field next year. Most of the athletes transferred, and many of the coaches took other jobs."
PD Editorial: SSU leadership has chance to turn $45 million reprieve into a renaissance
Instead of deep cuts, Sonoma State University is receiving an infusion of money to recruit students and build new programs.
www.pressdemocrat.com
June 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Cutrer's disastrous leadership led to this tragedy: "Although the deal includes $8 million over three years for Seawolves athletics, none of the teams is expected to return to the playing field next year. Most of the athletes transferred, and many of the coaches took other jobs."
It was all a lie. The budget wasn't the reason for the cuts, it was an excuse. Once the budget was restored, with even more, many of the same cuts will remain. Cutrer must be held accountable for lying to the campus community for six months.
‘Game changer’ for SSU: What the $45 million infusion from the state will go toward
The $45 million will be used to launch new programs and support the restoration of at least some academic tracks, faculty jobs and sports that have been on the chopping block since January.
www.pressdemocrat.com
June 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It was all a lie. The budget wasn't the reason for the cuts, it was an excuse. Once the budget was restored, with even more, many of the same cuts will remain. Cutrer must be held accountable for lying to the campus community for six months.
You can tell how bad things have gotten when CSU Board of Trustees and the State of Ohio's assault on higher education are this tightly aligned. If the Board won't get rid of Garcia, then the board itself has got to go, by act of the legislature.
Kent State University to close LGBTQ+, Multicultural and Women's centers to comply with state law
The move to close the centers to comply with Senate Bill 1 comes after other major universities in Ohio have closed their diversity, equity and inclusion offices and ended their multicultural, women's...
www.ideastream.org
June 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
You can tell how bad things have gotten when CSU Board of Trustees and the State of Ohio's assault on higher education are this tightly aligned. If the Board won't get rid of Garcia, then the board itself has got to go, by act of the legislature.
Press Democrat asked all the right questions, but they mostly got non-answers, until the end, when Mills explained that the liberal arts deliver the most important job skills. But nobody will ever explain how killing the liberal arts gives you more of the job skills that the liberal arts give. #SSU
SSU enrollment chief on what’s being done to reverse sharp decline in student numbers
Ed Mills, Sonoma State’s vice president of strategic enrollment, is spearheading the university’s effort to solve the most deep-rooted and intractable problem in its 64-year history.
www.pressdemocrat.com
June 1, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Press Democrat asked all the right questions, but they mostly got non-answers, until the end, when Mills explained that the liberal arts deliver the most important job skills. But nobody will ever explain how killing the liberal arts gives you more of the job skills that the liberal arts give. #SSU
This article contains factual errors and misdiagnoses the core problem, which is not the GE pattern. But it gets some things very right, especially the importance of making the liberal arts accessible to new populations, rather than further isolating the liberal arts in elite schools.
Opinion | The Strangling of Sonoma State
How misbegotten ideals tanked California’s ‘Public Ivy.’
www.chronicle.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This article contains factual errors and misdiagnoses the core problem, which is not the GE pattern. But it gets some things very right, especially the importance of making the liberal arts accessible to new populations, rather than further isolating the liberal arts in elite schools.
More assaults on CA higher education. The right move would be to invest in higher education and make CA higher education the envy of the country, and a reason why people move to California. The economic impact would be extraordinary. No reason to tear it down.
Should California’s college systems be merged into one massive university?
Under the proposed California University, the three segments — UC, CSU and community colleges — would be merged into a network of regional campuses — such as California University, San Joaquin Valley,...
www.pressdemocrat.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
More assaults on CA higher education. The right move would be to invest in higher education and make CA higher education the envy of the country, and a reason why people move to California. The economic impact would be extraordinary. No reason to tear it down.
Useless article suggests that it is "unrealistic" to expect Philosophy and athletics as SSU, that massive cuts are inevitable. But there is nothing inevitable about the enrollment decline. It had a cause. The cause can be undone. The PD lacks the vision to see such a simple thing.
PD Editorial: Sonoma State needs a leader to build bridges
Sonoma State University faces an uncertain future with likely budget cuts and the loss of academic and athletic programs.
www.pressdemocrat.com
May 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Useless article suggests that it is "unrealistic" to expect Philosophy and athletics as SSU, that massive cuts are inevitable. But there is nothing inevitable about the enrollment decline. It had a cause. The cause can be undone. The PD lacks the vision to see such a simple thing.
This article assumes that if you go to college you'll get the kind of education that has historically proved very valuable. But if they go to SSU, where Philosophy isn't even offered, and the experience is increasingly tailored to vocational training, it might not be true any more.
Can Young People Afford to Not Go to College?
The president of Quinnipiac University makes the argument that while college is expensive, not going to college can cost even more.
time.com
May 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This article assumes that if you go to college you'll get the kind of education that has historically proved very valuable. But if they go to SSU, where Philosophy isn't even offered, and the experience is increasingly tailored to vocational training, it might not be true any more.
#SSU is not the only one disastrously and thoughtlessly deploying AI in education. "...We need to convince the people in charge of our schools — especially our elementary schools — that the zealous embrace of [artificial intelligence] is not the way forward."
Opinion | A.I. Will Destroy Critical Thinking in K-12 (Gift Article)
The secretary of education said it would be a “wonderful thing.” Lots of parents disagree.
www.nytimes.com
May 19, 2025 at 2:21 AM
#SSU is not the only one disastrously and thoughtlessly deploying AI in education. "...We need to convince the people in charge of our schools — especially our elementary schools — that the zealous embrace of [artificial intelligence] is not the way forward."
The best you could say for Chancellor Garcia is that she is willing to shoot one of the CSU campuses in order to get money for the others. That makes her a hostage-taking terrorist -- at best. She must be removed.
May 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The best you could say for Chancellor Garcia is that she is willing to shoot one of the CSU campuses in order to get money for the others. That makes her a hostage-taking terrorist -- at best. She must be removed.
SSU's disinterest in reversing the cuts, even as new money arrives, proves that the budget was only an excuse for what they wanted to do anyway, and they're still going to do it anyway, whether there is a budget crisis or not. Remove Chancellor Garcia.
Newsom’s revised budget holds some good news, but no salvation for embattled SSU
The revised plan calls for only a 3% cut, restoring $230 million to the 23-campus CSU system. “It’s good news, but it’s early news,” said state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon.
www.pressdemocrat.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
SSU's disinterest in reversing the cuts, even as new money arrives, proves that the budget was only an excuse for what they wanted to do anyway, and they're still going to do it anyway, whether there is a budget crisis or not. Remove Chancellor Garcia.