Seattle Pacific UnivSeattle Pacific University Announces 40% Cut to Programs, Steep Layoffsersity Announces 40% Cut to Programs, Steep Layoffs

Seattle Pacific University is cutting its budget for academic programs by 40% — mostly through steep faculty layoffs, effective in a year. The announcement by interim President Peter Menjares in an email to faculty Wednesday follows several years of internal protests against the Christian university’s policy against hiring people in same-sex relationships. Those protests culminated in a lawsuit by students, faculty and staff claiming the ban is causing the school to “implode.” This week’s revelation, attributed by the school to declining enrollment and coming on top of previous staff cuts, seemed like possible confirmation.