We, the undersigned, support the teaching faculty, librarian faculty and professional staff of William Paterson University in New Jersey and request that the administration continue its efforts to work with AFT Local 1796 leadership to reduce the number of proposed layoffs and stop the projected closing of the following programs: BA in Art History including the minor; BA in Asian Studies including the Asian Studies minor; Minor in French; BA in Geography including the minor; MA in Applied Sociology; and MA in Public Policy.

Furthermore, we urge Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey legislators to support increasing state appropriations for colleges and universities like William Paterson, the majority of whose student body is comprised of minority students.

WP needs to maintain its faculty and professional staff. Why?

·      As a majority minority serving University WP produces a high percentage of first- generation college graduates many of whom come from families of a lower socioeconomic status.

·      WP ranks in the top 5 percent nationally for increasing the social mobility of our students.

·      WP provides the necessary supplemental, individualized support for all students to succeed.

Eliminating these programs and reducing faculty and professional staff would:

·      Deprive WP students of program choices comparable to their more affluent peers at other universities.

·      Limit students’ opportunities for success, since many of these programs are in the liberal arts and provide real life skills crucial for the current and future changing job market

·      Decrease confidence in the WP administration and the university itself, potentially tarnishing WP’s status, leading to issues with recruitment and retention of students and new faculty and professional staff.

·      Elevate the stress level of faculty and professional staff due to an increased workload and class size; and elevate the stress level of students due to a decrease in mentor availability and individualized attention from professors.

·      Lower morale among faculty, professional staff, and students. During these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever for all of us to come together to work on lifting up our higher education institutions rather than tearing them down. William Paterson University’s administration must continue to work with AFT Local 1796 leadership to prevent the layoffs and program eliminations.  Serving students and supporting the dedicated faculty and professional staff must remain the priority in all our institutions of higher education.