On February 25th, 2026, Goucher College’s President, Kent Devereaux, held a town hall with all faculty and staff in the Hyman forum. Students were not officially invited, but many were leaning over the balcony listening in or trying to get a better look at what was going on.
On February 26th, President Devereaux released an email titled “Campus FY27 Budget Cuts.” This article is an attempt to condense the information provided in his email and outline the relevant aspects that are directly affecting Goucher’s community. This does not cover every element of what is currently happening on campus, but a summary of key events.
Goucher is anticipating a ‘stress’ in their budget due to governmental pressures and the US birth rate. There is an increase in students applying to Goucher, but it is uncertain whether they will enroll.
“…budget reductions will focus on areas that are less central to our core mission…”
Goucher has stopped hiring, including the replacement of retiring staff members. The hiring freeze does not include roles considered essential for health and safety: Facilities Management Services searches, Residential Life coordinator, and active faculty searches.
The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for faculty and staff members has been limited to 0.5%. The cost of living adjustment is an adjustment in pay that balances out salaries with actual living costs, to account for inflation.
Overtime is cut, so professors will not be allowed to teach extra courses (otherwise known as overload). Without overload, less courses will be taught per major. Hence why choosing classes for next semester is currently halted. Staff (non-professors) will also not be allowed to work extra hours. Staff includes librarians, student affairs employees, admissions employees, and other non-teaching roles.
President Devereaux also mentioned the cutting of external contracts. So far, this has affected our external contract with Bon Appetit. Brian Hutzley and Aarika Camp negotiated a Bon Appetit pay cut from 3 million to 1.5 million per year for the next three years. In theory this is supposed to only cut Corporate Bon Appetit profits, and not cut service to students. We miss you omelet making station.
Other cuts include the cutting of all organizational memberships that are “unnecessary,” as well as cutting all “unnecessary travel”. No details were provided, so there is no clear answer to what will be cut.
The president is “limiting impact on academic offerings.” However, there will be no compensation for the courses that will be lost with faculty retiring. Additionally, there is no potential for new courses, and no recovery of previous courses that new hires could have taught.
The president is also “limiting impact” on student services. That said, all wellness center student employees are removed starting next year. Also, paid hours for all student workers have been substantially cut. “Limiting impact” on student services, but preventing the hiring of a new school chaplain for religious student support. Chaplain was an open position cut with the hiring freeze. This implies that the presence of spiritual and religious guidance is not considered essential for health and safety at Goucher. President Devereaux is “limiting impact,” but cutting down and combining student service offices under the branch of EIE.
The school’s attention is now on admissions and enrollment. Focus and monetary resources will be shifted to incoming students. As another measure, President Devereaux hopes to use the endowment money with more efficiency.
The email ends on a positive note: hopefully the incoming class will be larger, the new science building will attract more students and Goucher will have a “balanced budget” in 2028.
By Kate Wisneskey ’28
Featured Photo Credit: Mich Rouse
