Sonoma State University announced that its intercollegiate athletics programs are being discontinued, several academic departments and majors are being eliminated and dozens of faculty members are being laid off to address a budget deficit of nearly $24 million.

Sonoma State faces a multimillion-dollar budget deficit as the California State University system as a whole could be staring down a $1 billion shortfall next year.

Sonoma State University women’s basketball coach Des Abeyta, meets with her team prior to a two-game road trip to the Central Valley, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, to discuss the fallout from an announcement all athletic programs and other departments would be dropped at SSU. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Facing a $23.9 million deficit, Sonoma State University will enact large budget cuts, including laying off faculty & eliminating its intercollegiate athletics program.

The California public university plans to reduce staff, faculty and majors, as well as fold its athletics program.

One Bay Area university is completely eliminating its athletic department as part of a wave of cuts and layoffs to address a massive budget deficit.

In a video of the town hall meeting posted by an SSU coach, tensions flared between athletes and the school’s interim president. At one point, a player’s microphone was cut off as he attempted to ask a question.