Fresno Pacific graduate fears the university is headed toward bankruptcy | Opinion

OPINION AND COMMENTARY

Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters.

Amid years of decline in student enrollment, the Central Valley’s only accredited Christian institution has failed to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and now stares bankruptcy right in the face.

Fresno is already dealing with the lasting impact of Bitwise’s bankruptcy: thousands of jobs lost, workers losing retirement benefits, and the Central Valley economy taking a near billion-dollar hit.

Now a higher education institution in Fresno may be facing a demise like that of Bitwise. This month, Fresno Pacific University underwent its third wave of layoffs, eliminating Jost School of Business and 16 other programs. Sadly, this is on brand for my alma mater.

While seeking support for resources to organize a new student-led organization, we were met with roadblocks that prevented even free speech. Soon after students were provided with short and censured releases from FPU that informed us some cuts were underway, but we only learned the specifics from word of mouth.

As a student on campus, I and other members of SGA warned the university to be transparent and listen to their tuition-paying alumni and faculty who pleaded for accountability.

Then-President Joseph Jones refused to speak to me, even though I was a member of the student government and a Navy veteran using my GI Bill. The Board of Trustees blocked any paperwork we routed up the chain of command.

Opinion

As the school year progressed, we came to realize these financial decisions also blindsided many laid-off faculty members who were unaware they were on the chopping block until they were served termination papers through the first and second wave of layoffs.

Now we are seeing the same events unfold, but sadly the current SGA are seemingly following a rhetoric provided to them by the school. Who on campus is left to represent the best interests of the students when beloved teachers are being cut and the board makes decisions without taking input of its alumni?

Much like Bitwise, which was set to spend $500,000 in investments from the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific has received $5.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government.

Fresno Pacific also received $750,000 in state grants to boost teacher training, among other financial support. Regardless, the Board of Trustees continues to allow their cutting of the school’s programs and continues on with its third wave of layoffs. Unfortunately, there will be no press conference or former employees voicing their frustration at the injustice.

For Fresno Pacific’s laid-off Christian leaders, your choices are simple: sign an NDA, or risk losing your severance package completely and entering unemployment with even higher financial uncertainty.

I have received numerous messages from those affected thanking me for using my voice to help bring attention to what is happening.

If Fresno Pacific declares bankruptcy, the city of Fresno and the Central Valley will be left to deal with the fallout of yet another key community institution. Surrounding college institutions will face higher student impact levels and begin to turn away even local Valley students.

The 42-acre campus of 16 buildings will lay vacant, becoming yet another crime-attracting eyesore in a low-income neighborhood.

And what about the alumni who have graduated? You will now be holding a degree from a defunct college that was shut down from financial mismanagement. I only hope future employers are willing to look the other way.

Victims of financial mismanagement cannot speak to what is happening! It is up to the alumni and the community at large to take notice and ring the alarm bells.

To our community leaders, I ask that you step in and intervene, and to the board of trustees, I ask that you resign.

Justin St. George of Fresno graduated from Fresno Pacific University’s business school in 2022. He is a Navy veteran.