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The Rossier School of Education laid off four faculty and 15 staff members this week in order to meet university-wide budget cuts, Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera wrote in an email to the community Tuesday.
“These are very difficult decisions, and we understand how hard this news is for our community,” Noguera wrote. He also noted that the school’s priority was to “protect the work that defines us and ensure our students receive the best education possible.”
One of those laid off was Rossier’s sole career services specialist, leaving the college’s students with no point person to turn to on specific career advice.
Annenberg Media reviewed a message thread among Rossier students sharing the news of this week’s layoffs. A student close to the specialist wrote, “we are now without any Career Services Specialist,” and directed other students to visit the USC Career Center for help with resumes, cover letters and interview preparation.
The losses come as USC’s $200 million operating deficit has led to a series of mass layoffs, as announced by interim President Beong-Soo Kim in July. Since then, the Annenberg and Keck schools have announced layoffs, in addition to other departments across USC.
Rossier’s Career Services Office has not yet responded to requests for comment.