photo credit: Courtesy of CA Senate Democrats
State legislators Mike McGuire, Chris Cabaldon, Cecilia Aguilar-Curry, Damon Connolly,
and Chris Rogers at the third community forum to discuss Sonoma State University's 
future, hosted on August 11, 2025.

North Bay state legislators were back at Sonoma State Monday for a public forum on how to use millions in one time state funding to help the embattled university.

Sonoma State's budget turnaround from the start of the year has been nothing short of dramatic.

In January, Sonoma State's interim President Emily Cutrer rolled out a hugely unpopular slate of cuts meant to shore up what was a $24 million budget deficit at the school.

The reductions would've eliminated all NCAA athletics, six academic departments including art history and economics, and laid off 62 faculty and staff.

Instead, the school is due for a major cash injection from Sacramento, said State Senate leader Mike McGuire.

"In total the turnaround plan, this $45 million investment isn't a magic wand."

McGuire, himself an SSU graduate, noted that in spite of the investment, some of the damage from the proposed budget cuts can't be reversed, but McGuire also announced a second $45 million funding investment, from the CSU Chancellor's office.

"...What was then called the Bridge to the Future Plan, that is going to stick," McGuire said. "So that 10 million dollars is going to continue to carry forward here at Sonoma State. In addition, the Chancellor's office is going to commit additional 5.8 million for enrollment in student service programming...The final portion of this $45 million is a $25 million one-time line of credit for infrastructure needs."

McGuire said $4.6 million will also come from the enrollment reallocation fund, which shifts enrollment dollars from high enrollment to lower enrollment schools.

The $45 million dollar turnaround plan includes specific program improvement, said State Senator Chris Cabaldon.

"$5 million to expand the first of its kind Sonoma State University career center by the spring semester of the '27 academic year," Cabaldon said. "$5 million to establish a data science academic program in major to be launched by fall of 2027. And I'll just as an aside, I will say...data science is one of the highest demand areas that we are seeing on a statewide basis, and this puts Sonoma State right at the front of the line.$2 million to support environmental science academic programs, which will include geology."

"$8 million for Sonoma State University Athletics to support its NCAA Division 2 athletics program over the next three years," Cabaldon said. "$9 million over three years, and this is key, in consultation with faculty, students, and community stakeholders for increased enrollment, for restoring some of the funding reductions for investing in new academic degrees to address regional and statewide workforce needs."

The one-time funds will also go towards expanding Sonoma State's nursing program, and improving the program facilities.

Enrollment at the Sonoma State has fallen 38% since it's peak of almost 10,000 in 2015, to just 5,700 in 2024.

Even with the extra state funds, not all programs are guaranteed a lifeline. Representatives for the Women's and Gender Studies Department, in a post on social media before the hastily-announced forum, said the department's future, without a specific earmark in the $45 million funding infusion, remains uncertain.

As well, some 200 of SSU's student athletes have apparently initiated transfers for the 2025-26 school year.