The Department of Biology warns recent budget cuts could undermine the department’s ability to continue delivering a quality education and research opportunities.
A Sept. 12 open letter addressed to senior representatives of all levels of the University administration and all Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Undergraduate Chairs, with request to forward to their respective department heads outlined the consequences of budget cuts, including a 20 per cent reduction in teaching staff due to voluntary retirements, the loss of critical support staff, and a sharp decline in research capacity.
The letter, sent to all biology faculty and students, expressed concerns, explaining further reductions would lead to larger class sizes, fewer specialized upper-year courses, and diminished opportunities for independent learning.
Signed by 25 members, including faculty professors, department heads, technicians, and lab instructors, the letter showed strong support for the Department of Biology in their fight against the proposed cuts.
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“We write from the Department of Biology to provide an on-the-ground perspective on the impact of the current and proposed budget cuts and the likely risks to our future ability to serve our students,” the letter read. “We’ve reached a crisis point,” the letter stated, noting the direct effects on students’ ability to engage in smaller, intensive courses essential for critical thinking and research development.
According to the letter, six senior faculty members have opted for Voluntary Retirement Plan (VRP), leading to an anticipated 20 per cent reduction in active teaching staff by June 2025. This decline is alarming according to the letter. Given the faculty Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) was already reduced from 31.5 in 2017 to a projected 21.5 members by 2025.
Faculty members warn this reduction will severely limit their ability to teach core biology courses and manage an increasing number of upper-year courses, jeopardizing the academic experience of undergraduate and graduate students.
“There’s a real crisis concern about our capacity to provide teaching in several of our program’s core biology courses, as well as a decrease in our total course offerings,” the open letter stated. “We have no obvious faculty who can fill those teaching gaps in core courses.”
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With the minimum number of lab instructors required to support current courses already in place, the department is facing challenges in maintaining its commitment to research and student training. The letter stated the loss of two research and building support staff has further exacerbated the situation. This reduction has led to the reallocation of critical duties and the loss of a technician responsible for essential research and teaching equipment repair and maintenance.
The faculty anticipates an additional five senior faculty members may retire within the next five years. Given the department’s need to maintain a critical mass of at least 24 FTE faculty for research and teaching, this potential loss raises concerns. The letter states it typically takes three years to develop early career researchers into fully contributing members of the teaching team, making timely hiring essential to uphold research excellence.
“The reduction in active teaching staff will significantly weaken our capacity to provide foundational undergraduate learning experiences,” the letter says. “The brutal reality is that implementing the first wave of budget cuts will undoubtedly mean a ‘dumbing down’ of some features of the program.”
The letter details changes in the curriculum that will impact students’ learning experiences. As part of a broader FAS modularization initiative, the Department of Biology is reorganizing its major and specializations, which is expected to result in fewer small-sized courses available to students in the third- and fourth-year courses.
Beyond the immediate impact on teaching and curriculum, faculty members expressed concern about the decline in morale among staff and faculty. They fear that increasing workloads and job insecurity may prompt junior faculty and administrative support staff to seek opportunities elsewhere. The letter raises the alarm about the potential for additional budget cuts to worsen these issues.
The faculty’s call to action isn’t limited to their department; they urge other affected faculties and departments to unite in voicing their concerns and resisting further cuts. They emphasize the need for transparency from senior administration and effective communication across departments, arguing that a uniform percentage cut to all departments is unreasonable given the varying circumstances of each.
“We simply cannot stand any more than already implemented first-wave cuts. Other similarly concerned departments and schools, please speak out. Administrators, please listen.”
Tags
biology, budget cuts, Department of Biology, open letter
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