To the Editor:

I am writing to express my deep concern over the ongoing faculty cuts at CSU Stanislaus and how they are affecting students’ education and futures. As a graduate student, I have personally felt the consequences of these decisions. One of my thesis committee members, Dr. Adam Fleenor, is being let go—just one semester before my thesis defense.

Dr. Fleenor’s guidance has been instrumental in shaping my research and academic growth. His passion and dedication to the success of his students is irreplicable. His departure means that I will need to restructure my committee, revise my timeline, and potentially delay my graduation. This is not just a bureaucratic inconvenience; it’s a significant disruption to years of planning and hard work.

The impacts extend far beyond my case. Students are losing access to dedicated mentors, departments are stretched thin, and morale across campus is suffering. Faculty like Dr. Fleenor do more than teach—they inspire, support, and help students succeed. These cuts undermine the mission of the CSU system to provide accessible, high-quality education. 

I urge university leadership and the broader community to recognize the real human cost of these decisions and to advocate for investment—not divestment—in our public universities.

— Heather Collins