Facing state budget cuts, this Utah University is eliminating administrative positions

The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance on the U.S. education sector since Donald Trump took office, implementing funding cuts, targeting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, issuing the controversial “Dear Colleague” letter, and prompting major layoffs.
In a recent development, Weber State University announced a major overhaul of its College of Education, which plays a crucial role in training the state’s K-12 teachers. Citing state-imposed budget cuts, the university will eliminate the dean’s position and merge the college’s departments with other academic programs. Professors quickly voiced concerns on social media about the impact on jobs and education quality, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Weber State President Brad Mortensen and Provost Ravi Krovi acknowledged in a statement that changes of this scale naturally raise concerns and uncertainty.
The Utah Legislature recently approved $60 million in budget cuts for the state’s eight public higher education institutions. Each school’s share is determined by its size and available resources. Weber State, which enrolls nearly 33,000 students, is set to lose $6.7 million under the base budget bill (HB1). Another bill, HB265, allows schools to reclaim funds by proving the money will support high-wage, high-demand programs, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
These cuts come amid growing legislative criticism of higher education spending, with some lawmakers accusing institutions of “administrative bloat.” With financial pressures mounting, universities may need to rethink their structures and priorities, leaving faculty and students uncertain about the future.