Freshman class enrollment projected to be down 9%
By Holly Dillemuth, Ashland.news
Adia Spindler was all smiles as her family helped her move into the dorms at Southern Oregon University last Friday.
Coming to SOU from Mesa, Arizona, Spindler plans to study theater at SOU and is one of an estimated 514 freshmen to start classes this fall at SOU, out of an overall estimated 795 new students. The class was anticipated to be down by 9% in enrollment compared to fall 2024, according to projections shared by SOU President Rick Bailey earlier this summer.
SOU Trustee Brent Barry handed a box to Spindler’s older sister, Grace Howard, last Friday. Barry was one of several trustees who, along with Bailey, mingled with families and helped students like Spindler move in days before classes began Wednesday, Sept. 24.
“I’m going to cry — It’s a big day for her and she’s accomplished a lot,” Howard said of her younger sister and incoming Raider.
The move-in help offered by SOU trustees and leadership was on the heels of a vote to approve the university’s “Resiliency Plan,” which cuts $10 million from the university’s $71 million budget in coming years, including $5 million this year alone.
The cuts eliminate 67 positions, including through vacancies and retirements. Of the overall amount, 25 classified and 14 unclassified positions will be cut, according to previous reporting by Ashland.news. Ten majors, more than 10 minors, and one graduate program are also among the cuts, in addition to the closure of SOU’s Honors College within one year.
Bailey acknowledged the simultaneous realities of navigating the excitement of a new school term while facing a financial budget crisis.
“I think it’s a reminder of why we do what we do — this is the magic, this makes everything that we do, all the budgets, all the interactions with government — all of it comes to this and it’s a reminder of why we do the work that we do,” Bailey told Ashland.news.
“I think our goal is to really put the university in a position where we don’t have to make decisions like this and try to get out of that cycle and we can’t guarantee it, the landscape is really challenging, but I hope the more conscious we are about the changes that are in front of us, the more we can help make ourselves more resilient.”
Sheila Clough, chair of the SOU Board of Trustees, expressed similar sentiments.
“We are so focused on the students today and I think what got us through (the Sept. 18 vote) is knowing that Southern Oregon University is here in this community to serve students and these students are our future workforce,” Clough said. “So today we all come together and remind ourselves that this university is an incredible place in the region.
“I’m thrilled to be part of an organization where we can make difficult decisions that will move us forward,” she added.
SOU started conversations with faculty and staff last week about next steps following the decision to cut $10 million from the budget, according to SOU officials.
“I think we have to do everything with compassion and remind ourselves and make sure we’re conscious of the fact that there are people we love who are affected by this and their livelihoods,” Bailey said.
The SOU Board of Trustees plans to consider a 10-year strategic plan at its upcoming board meeting in October, which will be held in person at the university.
Final enrollment numbers will be available later this fall, according to SOU officials.
This story is part of an ongoing series of stories about the impacts of SOU’s Resiliency Plan to cut $10 million from the university. If you are personally affected by cuts being made to SOU’s budget and would like to share your story, please reach out to Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at [email protected].
Latest news:
SOU finds ‘no way around’ $10 million in cuts to programs, faculty, staff (Sept. 19, 2025)
SOU Trustees to meet virtually to consider vote on campus cuts on Thursday, Sept. 18 (Sept. 15, 2025)
Tuesday virtual SOU Trustee board meeting, vote on updated budget cuts, canceled (Sept. 2, 2025)
SOU Faculty Union: ‘It is going to take some time for trust to be rebuilt’ (Aug. 30, 2025)
SOU budget cuts: ‘There’s no part of the institution that hasn’t been touched by this’ (Aug. 28, 2025)
SOU President: ‘Today we are declaring exigency,’ ‘building’ to a $60 million university, 15% off current budget (Aug. 2, 2025)
SOU trustees praise Bailey’s leadership during turbulent times at SOU, cut his pay $53K at his request (July 30, 2025)
SOU braces for $6 million in cuts: special trustee meeting Wednesday, ‘campus conversation’ Friday (July 28, 2025)
SOU President: ‘We can’t continue to cut our way to some type of success’ (June 24, 2025)
SOU President Bailey says ‘stark’ financial woes facing Oregon universities in 2025-26 constitute a ‘crisis’ (June 8, 2025)
Oregon’s economic outlook clouded by tariffs and federal spending cuts – OPB (May 15, 2025)
Federal issue, local impact: Stalled student loan application decisions ding SOU enrollment (Sept. 8, 2024)
‘This is a bittersweet day’: Trustees approve ‘SOU Forward’ plan for realignment – Ashland News (April 21, 2023)
SOU realignment plan up for adoption by Board of Trustees on Friday afternoon (April 20, 2023)
