Temple University is staring down staff reductions as President John Fry warns that “some reduction in force is inevitable” while the school hunts for $60 million in savings to help plug a projected $85 million deficit for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The warning, delivered in a campus-wide message, has faculty, staff and students bracing for cuts that Temple says could include hiring freezes, fewer adjunct-taught courses and pauses in some doctoral admissions, all while officials insist enrollment is only slowly stabilizing.
University leaders outline the plan
Fry told the campus that colleges, schools and administrative units have each been handed reduction targets that together add up to roughly $60 million, part of a broader push to get back to a balanced budget within three years. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, he reminded the community that nearly 70% of Temple’s operating budget goes to compensation and benefits and declined to say how many positions might ultimately be affected. The university’s board of trustees executive committee is slated to review the proposed budget next week, making that meeting the first formal checkpoint for the plan.
Retirements and the One Temple budget
To soften the blow, Temple has been pointing to a voluntary retirement incentive that drew about 77 faculty members this year, roughly 3% of full-time faculty. Administrators say that move should save around $15 million annually and, in theory, limit how deep upcoming cuts will need to go. The university also plans to shift to a centralized “One Temple” budget model starting July 1 and has instructed deans and vice presidents to craft data-driven plans to hit their assigned targets, according to Temple Now.
Union and campus reaction
On the labor side, questions are piling up faster than answers. Jeffrey Doshna, president of the Temple Association of University Professionals, says the campus needs far more clarity about which areas are on the chopping block and how many people could lose their jobs. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the union is pushing for a bigger role in shaping the decisions and for stronger protections for workers as the administration finalizes its approach.
Past cuts and legal considerations
This is not Temple’s first trip to the cost-cutting well. Last July, the university eliminated about 50 employees and closed hundreds of vacant positions as part of earlier savings efforts, according to Inside Higher Ed. If Temple proceeds with mass layoffs, covered employers are generally required to provide 60 days’ written notice under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry oversees WARN filings and rapid-response services in the state, and the U.S. Department of Labor and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry provide guidance on how the notice rules and limited exceptions work.
What comes next
Temple officials say that rising deposits from incoming first-year and transfer students are a welcome sign, just not a quick budget fix. Administrators have asked units to move quickly to hit their targets while the clock ticks toward the 2026–27 fiscal year. The university’s spokesperson declined to say how many roles might ultimately be cut, according to KYW Newsradio, leaving next week’s board meeting as the moment when the public will finally get a clearer look at the numbers and specific plans.
