School of Visual Arts Conducts Staff Layoffs Without Public Announcement

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Manhattan is currently facing significant financial challenges, leading to staff reductions, course cancellations, and budget shortfalls. The recently formed SVA faculty union estimates that approximately 30 staff members were laid off, although the school has not confirmed this figure. On August 5, SVA’s president, David Rhodes, announced the layoffs in an all-staff email, stating the decision was due to financial difficulties. The email did not specify which departments were affected, but the faculty union believes reductions occurred across various areas, including undergraduate and graduate programs, the library, and support staff.

These changes follow the formal unionization of nearly 1,200 SVA faculty members under the United Auto Workers (UAW) two months prior. The union aims to secure pay increases, improved compensation for out-of-classroom work, job security, and expanded benefits. Despite faculty and staff being under separate contracts, both groups face linked challenges, emphasizing the need for solidarity.

The reductions come amid low enrollment and budget constraints, leading to significant course cancellations, which affect faculty income and job stability. SVA’s student enrollment for the previous fall was 3,812, a drop from 4,016 in the prior year. The SVA Faculty United – UAW remains committed to supporting the school’s long-term success but expressed disappointment over the administration’s approach to financial challenges, criticizing the reliance on staff layoffs and class cancellations.

The union stresses that placing the financial burden on its workers undermines SVA’s greatest asset: its workforce. The situation at SVA highlights broader issues in higher education, emphasizing the critical need for institutions to address financial and operational challenges without compromising their staff and faculty’s welfare.