Penn’s Graduate School of Education laid off several staff members last week as part of a University-wide effort to cut costs.
The layoffs, which were completed June 2, mark the latest step taken by Penn to address financial uncertainty as a result of federal policies. In an email obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian to GSE faculty and staff, administrators attributed the changes to a “comprehensive redesign” of the school’s “staffing model.”
The message — written by GSE Dean Katharine Strunk and Division Chairs Mike Nakkula, Rand Quinn, Janine Remillard, and Betsy Rymes — stated that the reorganization was based on “nearly 100 interviews” with faculty and staff members over a period of two years. According to the email, the process is complete and “no further staff role changes are planned.”
“Some of our colleagues have received difficult news,” the administrators wrote. “Even if your own role is unchanged, you may feel the weight of what this means for the people you work alongside and for the school you care about.”
In a statement to the DP, a GSE spokesperson described the layoffs as a “multi-year effort” coordinated by the school and “informed by extensive planning.”
“Out of consideration for those most affected, we are not providing additional detail at this time,” the spokesperson wrote. “Our focus remains on supporting our community, protecting our core academic mission, and ensuring long-term sustainability.”
According to the email, Strunk had initially alluded to layoffs in a May 13 staff meeting, where she shared that GSE would be “moving forward with efforts to reduce expenditures in line with the University’s required steps.”
In January, Provost John Jackson Jr. and Executive Vice President Mark Dingfield directed all schools and centers to implement a 4% reduction of certain expenses. Penn formalized the reductions in an April 21 email, citing a need to “deliberately” address “structural costs” during its 2027 fiscal year.
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At the time, according to the administrators, Strunk identified multiple priorities to guide the school through the reorganization, including the maintenance of shared governance and the protection of academic quality.
“In moments like this one, transparency and open conversation matter a great deal,” the email continued. “We know you will have questions: about your colleagues, about the work, about what changes for you.”
The message also outlined next steps for members of the school to “come together” and discuss the changes — including a special meeting on June 3 and opportunities for open forum.
This week, the school’s human resources division will host office hour sessions “for anyone who wishes to talk individually or in small groups.” Division chairs, program directors, and staff members will also have the chance to attend retreats later this summer.
In February 2025, the National Institutes of Health implemented a 15% cap on indirect costs, threatening to cost Penn $240 million in research funding.
A month later, the University instructed several schools to cut graduate admissions rates — including, in some cases, after programs had already accepted students. Penn’s current guidance builds on financial measures first implemented in March 2025, including a hiring freeze and a review of capital spending.
At a Board of Trustees meeting last month, Dingfield characterized the hiring freeze as a successful means for mitigating costs. He added that “select layoffs” had occurred but clarified that Penn did not need to enact “across-the-board layoffs.”
Last October, prior to the creation of the new budget guidelines, Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice announced that it would eliminate 8% of its staff, attributing the “painful decision” to budget constraints. The layoffs came after administrators determined that other management strategies failed to rectify declining funds and enrollment.
“Penn GSE is its people. That has always been true, and it is true now,” the administrators wrote. “We will move through this together, with clarity, steadiness, and care.”
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Staff reporter James Wan covers academic affairs and can be reached at wan@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies communication and computer science. Follow him on X @JamesWan__.
Senior reporter Arti Jain covers state and local politics and can be reached at jain@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies economics and political science. Follow her on X @arti_jain_.
Staff reporter Lavanya Mani covers legal affairs and can be reached at mani@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies English. Follow her on X @lavanyamani_.
