Sonoma State can proceed with cutting athletics and academic programs, court rules
Sonoma State University can proceed with eliminating six academic departments and ending its Division II athletics program to address a projected $24 million dollar deficit, a court has ruled.
The ruling, Sonoma State University said, denied the motion for a preliminary injunction and two writs of mandate filed by seven university students. The lawsuit alleged that the school exaggerated its budget deficit, failed to consult with the Academic Senate and other interested parties as required by law, and continued to recruit athletes and other students without telling them that their programs would be canceled.
The school had previously been halted by a temporary restraining order from enacting the budget on April 15 until Friday evening's ruling by the Sonoma County Superior Court.
The university said in a news release that the court ruled Sonoma State was within its discretion and that its plan 'was not made arbitrarily, capriciously, or without evidentiary support.'
The ruling also said the university 'substantially complied' with procedures to discontinue programs.
'This Court cannot conclude that the decision to eliminate the athletics program amounted to an abuse of discretion,' the ruling said. 'The law affords (Sonoma State) great deference in making decisions that impact the school's survival and solvency.'
The budget, released in January, included plans to end 13 intercollegiate sports programs — including basketball, soccer and baseball — and fire more than 60 faculty and staff members, including tenured professors.
Sonoma State University has seen a declining population, from 9,408 students in 2015 to 5,784 students in 2024, with the worst enrollment loss in the California State University system.
The cuts will also end programs awarding students bachelor's degrees in 15 subjects — including physics, environmental sciences and French — or a master's degree in six areas, including English, Spanish or history, the proposed budget shows.
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