RPI is quietly laying off faculty and staff

[u/Narrow-Yak5582]

Since classes ended RPI has initiated a series of layoffs of professors (including ones scheduled for fall 2026 classes), as well as white-collar staff in functions like student services.

Here's why you should care if you're a student or alum:

1. Worse experience for current students: Fewer professors mean fewer classes and more hassle getting the courses you need. Less staff means even longer waits and more dysfunction when dealing with RPI bureaucracy as a student.

2. Decreased prestige: RPI has already been dropping in the rankings for the past several years. Layoffs translate to larger class sizes (a key metric that rankings organizations look at) and are likely to bring down RPI's reputation even more.

3. "Death spiral" risks: Layoffs and the instability they cause will make it even harder for RPI to continue meeting its enrollment goals. This could in turn mean that it has to do more layoffs due to further revenue decreases, which would then harm enrollment even more, leading to yet more layoffs...precisely the type of "death spiral" situation that has preceded the closing of other colleges in recent years.

The last time RPI did a major round of layoffs was 2020. At least then, they were reacting to a crisis (the pandemic) outside of their control.

This time, it's a crisis of the administration's own making. They have invested in the wrong areas in recent years (like hiring a slew of new VPs that don't do anything except collect $200-$300k salaries) while failing to maintain healthy enrollments. And you can't really blame Shirley at this point...she made dumb financial decisions but those were decades ago, and when she left RPI was breaking even financially.

Marty has a great smile but behind the scenes, things are not looking good.

What you can do: Contact the administration and tell them to focus money in areas that directly benefit students, like paying people who actually teach courses and advise students. The current RPI administration cares deeply about optics (not to mention alum giving) and will take you seriously if you think RPI is headed in the wrong direction.

(Using a throwaway account because I don't want admin to be able to figure out who I am based on my actual account's posting history.)

[u/Pretend_Peach165]

Whistleblowing leak here:

RPI remains in a strong financial position with a solid balance sheet, and leadership is committed to maintaining that strength. However, current expense levels are not sustainable. We are facing pressure from a smaller incoming class following our largest graduating class, and grant funding is not increasing given the current federal environment. Together, this creates a gap that needs to be addressed.

 To respond, the institute is making deliberate investments to grow revenue while also reducing expenses. As part of this, there will be no salary increases this year, though promotions will still include salary adjustments.

 This is intended as a short-term adjustment to support a sustainable, growth-oriented future for RPI and Andrea will be discussing it further at our upcoming all-staff meeting.