As if their struggles for adequate funding were not already challenging enough, public colleges and universities have seen the strain on their budgets increase exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic. The result? Many are turning to faculty and staff layoffs, denying students the services they need now more than ever, and throwing thousands of academic personnel out of work.
Unions are fighting back, demanding their institutions use relief funds and cut administrative costs rather than lay off the faculty and staff who are the very heart of the academic mission. And they’re continuing to press for federal funding through legislation like the HEROES Act and other bills moving through the Senate.
