Professors at Portland State University say the college is mishandling its budget, after PSU sent layoff notices to roughly 90 staffers Tuesday, October 15.

More than 7 percent of the 1,200 unionized staff from the PSU American Association of University Professors (AAUP) received notice of forthcoming layoffs. In response, over 100 members of PSU AAUP and other faculty unions marched to the PSU administration building around noon Thursday, demanding answers from PSU President Ann Cudd. 

The layoffs targeted non-tenure-track faculty (NTTF), including some who have been continuously appointed at PSU for over 20 years, according to PSU AAUP.

Senior Instructor of University Studies, Daneen Bergland, was one of many—including the majority of the University Studies staff—who received notice of layoff. She first started working full time at PSU in 2010.

“I feel gut punched,” Bergland said in a speech at the protest. “I feel betrayed and abandoned, but more than that I’m worried about my students. I can’t imagine who is going to teach these first year students who show up with their bright shiny faces, who need that personal connection with me.”

The crowd of protesters gathered in the admin building chanting phrases such as “cut backs, fight back” and “tick tock” in reference to their union contracts expiring on November 11. 

Staff at the event shared many grievances, including rising class sizes and student caseloads of up to 800, which will only get worse with layoffs. Faculty say upwards of 70 hours of face-to-face union negotiation with PSU’s administration left them with little to show for it, while PSU hired consultants to help with “organizational excellence.” Members of the crowd questioned how the university expects to achieve “excellence” without maintaining quality faculty.

They also cited administrative bloat, saying the university should cut overpaid administrators rather than the proposed $12.5 million from academic units. When Cudd arrived at PSU in 2023, her contract included a $610,000 base salary and a $96,000 annual housing stipend. That’s on top of $12,000 for vehicle expenses each year.

A teacher’s assistant voiced that Cudd’s housing stipend is more than they had made in four years of working at PSU, while others shouted that Cudd should pay for housing out of her own salary like the rest of them. 

A financial analysis of PSU’s finances done by accounting professor and AAUP member Howard Bunsis from Eastern Michigan University, suggests PSU is overestimating its liabilities, like pensions, while downplaying its assets. The analysis also shows administrator salaries are increasing at a much faster rate than those of faculty and academic professionals.

The union said that Cudd emerged from her office later that day and said she had no power to help settle the labor contract or stop the cuts. A PSU representative stressed that the layoffs haven't happened yet, saying notice of potential layoffs is required by the bargaining agreement in place, and that "final notices of termination, which would be effective at the end of the current academic year, would be sent on or before December 15." 

The crowd had many supporters in attendance, including Portland City Council candidates Jonathan Tasini and Sameer Kanal, and Oregon Treasurer candidate Mary King. 

While many at the protest were outraged about potentially losing their jobs, they maintained their primary concerns were for the students. 

“I was a student here too,” Bergland said. “I know how hard it is to figure out. Where are the resources? Where do I fit? How do I belong here? And that’s what NTTF faculty are doing. We are on the ground, working with those students, helping them feel connected.”