MSU Mankato faculty say layoffs would gut tenure

Colleges and universities across the country are cutting their budgets amid rising costs, federal funding cuts and declining student enrollment.

In some cases, that means cutting academic programs and laying off faculty to help keep the future of their institutions viable.

It’s already happening on Minnesota’s college campuses. In August, Minnesota State University, Mankato announced plans to lay off seven tenured faculty through a year-long process called retrenchment.

Provost David Hood says it’s part of a broader effort to reduce costs and follows a review in May that led to the suspension of 87 academic programs.

MSU’s proposed budget cuts include plans to lay off seven tenured professors through a year-long process called retrenchment. It follows the suspension of 87 academic prog