New School administrators plan to reduce the university’s employees by 20% through buyouts and layoffs by June, according to documents obtained by the New School Free Press.

The figure suggests hefty reduction efforts. Additionally, because buyouts, or “voluntary separation” and “voluntary early retirement” offers, so far have only resulted in a 7% workforce reduction, layoffs are expected to be significant.

Administrators have said since November that buyout efforts would not be enough, according to multiple documents and emails, and that layoffs are contingent on how many employees participate in the buyouts.

The 20% figure was determined by administrators because it aligns with the university’s 20% drop in enrollment since fall 2021, according to the leaked document — a University Faculty Senate report from the University Budget Committee — and a press release from the demonstration last Wednesday emailed to NSFP by ACT-UAW.

University President Joel Towers’ most recent email update on the ongoing restructuring, a March 3 email to students and faculty, implied — but did not explicitly mention —  the goal of a 20% reduction in employees. 

Buyouts were offered on Dec. 3 to eligible full-time faculty and staff, and again on Feb. 24 to Local 1205P and Local 1205C members. Since then, the university has refused to publicly share the numbers of employees who accepted, denied, or were interested in buyout measures. 

This figure comes amid historic and gutting university-wide restructuring efforts led by administrators to stabilize a years-long operating financial deficit. It was last projected by administrators, in November, to be $48 million. Students, faculty, and staff have since demonstrated against the announced restructuring efforts four times.

Administrators are also undertaking less visible efforts to reduce employees beyond buyout offers. The two college merger, for example, is meant to “streamline academic operations and reduce overhead.” In addition, faculty have told NSFP that administrators are quietly letting go of some part-time faculty by canceling their courses.

The New School Free Press is awaiting comment from the university.