The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Manhattan has quietly laid off approximately 30 staff members due to ongoing financial challenges that have also led to cancelled courses and significant budget shortfalls. The recently formed SVA faculty union reported the layoff estimates based on informal discussions among colleagues, though the school has not responded to multiple requests for confirmation of the exact number of affected workers.
On Tuesday afternoon, August 5, SVA President David Rhodes announced the layoffs in a brief email to all staff members. "We made the very difficult decision to reduce staff at the School of Visual Arts due to financial challenges," Rhodes wrote in the message. "Those affected have been notified, and we are providing support during this transition." The president expressed gratitude for the laid-off workers' contributions and acknowledged the challenging times facing higher education institutions.
While Rhodes' email did not specify which departments were affected, the faculty union indicated that reductions occurred across the entire school. The cuts reportedly impacted undergraduate and graduate programs, the library, support staff, and various other areas throughout the institution. This broad scope of layoffs reflects the severity of the financial pressures facing the arts and design school.
The staff reductions come just two months after nearly 1,200 SVA faculty members successfully unionized under the United Auto Workers (UAW). Most of these faculty members are contracted adjuncts who lack job security and benefits. The UAW also represents instructors at other prominent New York institutions including Columbia University, New York University, and the Parsons School of Design. The newly formed union had prioritized securing scheduled pay increases aligned with inflation, compensation for out-of-classroom work, improved job security, and expanded benefits.
Justin Elm, a main organizer for SVA Faculty United-UAW, emphasized the interconnected challenges facing both staff and faculty despite their different employment contracts. "Faculty have been hit by significant course cancellations due to low enrollment and budget shortfalls," Elm explained. "Losing a class is not the same as being fired, but it represents a direct loss of wages, benefits, and stability, with no guarantee of being able to teach the course again in the future." He stressed the critical need for staff and faculty to stand together during these difficult times.
The financial pressures are reflected in declining enrollment numbers at SVA. The school's combined undergraduate and graduate student enrollment dropped to 3,812 students last fall, according to the institution's 2024 statistics. This represents a decrease from 4,016 students the previous year, highlighting the enrollment challenges contributing to the school's budget difficulties.
Despite the layoffs, SVA Faculty United-UAW maintains its commitment to the school's long-term success. However, Elm expressed disappointment with the administration's approach to addressing financial challenges. "We are deeply disappointed that the administration has chosen to address financial challenges by laying off staff, cancelling classes, and placing the burden squarely on its most valuable asset: its workers," he stated. The union's response suggests ongoing tensions between labor and administration as the school navigates its financial difficulties.
