On March 14, Brandeis students, faculty and staff received a joint email from University President Ronald Liebowitz, Provost Carol Fierke and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stewart Uretsky on the University’s response to its “short and long-term financial shortfall.”

The email began by acknowledging the state of academia and the “profound transformation” it is undergoing due to various factors such as changing demographics, the rise of online education options and a decline in public opinion about higher education. These factors have contributed to enrollment decline for institutions in Boston and around the country, including master’s degree programs at Brandeis. The joint email described Brandeis’ “forward-looking decisions to address current and anticipated budget deficits, brought on by declines in enrollment in our master’s degree programs, and rapidly-growing expenses due to inflation and other changes in the economy.” 

The University has asked deans and vice presidents to develop strategies for their respective departments, with the goals to advance the University's long-term academic reputation, financial stability and student experience. Additionally, the University's efforts to reduce costs at the institutional level will include postponing the annual staff performance reviews, as well as any consideration of merit and faculty merit increases until October 1, 2024. According to the March 14 email, faculty members have been asked by the University to continue to complete Faculty Activity Reports, and any merit increases for unionized employees will be determined in accordance with collective bargaining agreements.

The email outlined additional steps the University is taking to address its financial challenges, beginning with seeking a temporary increase in spending rate from its endowment.  The Board of Trustees would need to approve the request. Additionally, candidates for faculty and staff positions, not well funded through grants and contracts, will be considered with “even greater rigor.” 

Construction of the Science Center expansion process, called Science 2A, was expected to begin in late 2023 and cost about $145 million. The approximately 100,000 square feet expansion of new and renovated space would have included the addition of an engineering science program at Brandeis. However, there will be a pause to the process, according to the email. In response to on-campus housing challenges in recent years and in an effort to enhance “the student experience,” constructing new residence halls will be prioritized, as the University is aware that it “is vital to student life … as competition for students grows more intense.” 

The signatories of the email concluded that they remain “optimistic that these actions will help to reduce the University’s overall deficit and serve as an effective first step to help manage additional cuts that will need to be made in order to balance the budget.” They acknowledge that the steps addressed in the email “won't be easy” but are confident the financial decisions will allow for the University to pursue its academic mission.