News Summary
UCLA Extension has laid off 23 employees primarily affecting the enrollment marketing and learning and design teams. This restructuring effort aims to address financial challenges, with significant implications for marketing and support systems, particularly for international students. Employees expressed shock and concern over the abrupt notification and loss of community. Despite a recent state budget agreement alleviating some funding worries for the University of California, UCLA Extension continues to face fiscal difficulties, with fears growing about the future of its programs.
Los Angeles, CA – UCLA Extension has laid off 23 employees as part of budget reductions and restructuring efforts aimed at adapting to financial challenges. The layoffs, carried out in June 2023, predominantly affected the enrollment marketing team and the learning and design team, with over half of the enrollment marketing team losing their positions. Employees received a 60-day notice and will continue to have health insurance and benefits until August 18, 2023.
In a move that shocked many employees, access to work email and Slack accounts was revoked just one hour after the layoffs were announced. Affected staff members expressed feelings of being rendered unimportant and described a significant loss of community in their work environment, which emphasized collaborative relationships over the years. An employee who lost their job after a decade with UCLA Extension indicated their intention to retire there, highlighting the unexpected nature of these cuts.
The layoffs were instituted amid anticipated federal budget cuts, raising concerns about future marketing and promotional activities within the enrollment marketing team. This team was responsible for creating marketing materials, managing events, and promoting academic units. The restructuring coincided with the decision not to renew current academic directors’ contracts, instead opting for 11 new full-time portfolio directors as part of UCLA’s Division of Continuing Education restructuring process.
A recent state budget agreement, finalized on June 24, mitigated fears of reducing funding for the University of California for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, but it did not prevent UCLA Extension from facing financial strain. Other departments within the university have also enacted staff layoffs and paused programs as they grapple with similar budgetary issues.
UCLA Extension is known for providing certificate programs and specialization courses aimed at working adults and college students, and the recent workforce reductions raise questions about the program’s future and support systems, particularly for international students. An international student representative expressed concerns that the layoffs could lead to diminished support for this demographic, further complicating the educational experience for students who rely on UCLA Extension’s global programs, such as the Study Abroad initiative.
Eric Bullard, dean of the Division of Continuing Education and UCLA Extension, pointed to difficult financial circumstances as the driving force behind the layoffs, emphasizing the need to align staffing with institutional priorities. This situation marks a troubling parallel to 2018, when a similar budgetary crisis led to a 25% reduction in staff, but this year’s layoffs were unexpected for many employees who thought previous measures had stabilized operations.
Concerns are growing among laid-off employees about their mental well-being and the challenges they will face in seeking new job opportunities during a tumultuous economic climate. The abrupt nature of these layoffs is thought to put considerable strain on those affected, further emphasizing the impact of the university’s financial decisions on the community.
In summary, the layoff of 23 employees at UCLA Extension amidst budget cuts and departmental restructuring has highlighted significant challenges facing the institution, raising concerns over future operational capabilities, particularly in marketing and support roles for both domestic and international students.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Extension Lays Off Employees
- Wikipedia: UCLA Extension
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Lays Off Retention Access Program Staff
- Google Search: UCLA Extension budget cuts
- Poets & Quants: UCLA & Cornell B-Schools
- Google Scholar: UCLA Extension financial issues
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Extension to Lay Off Employees
- Encyclopedia Britannica: UCLA
- Daily Bruin: Employees Leave UCLA Extension
- Google News: UCLA Extension programs
