Overview

• Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Kenneth English issued a temporary restraining order preventing Sonoma State University from cutting academic programs and athletic teams.
• The court found that Interim President Emily Cutrer and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia violated governance protocols by bypassing required consultation processes with the Academic Senate and students.
• Seven student-athletes filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts, arguing that the university failed to follow proper procedures and that the changes would cause significant harm to students and the institution.
• The planned cuts, announced in January, aimed to address a $24 million budget shortfall driven by declining enrollment, which has dropped from 9,000 students in 2018 to 5,800 in 2025.
• Political leaders and community members warn that the cuts could damage Sonoma State's reputation and future enrollment, with final decisions about the university's budget expected in June.