A Message to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees:

We write to you with concern for our alma mater and the decisions that are being made by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the Academic Program Prioritization Implementation Committee (APPIC), the Office of Human Resources, as well as the Board of Trustees to fire some of our most beloved and valued faculty and staff members and to downsize or eliminate programs and majors. We do not believe that these hastened decisions, expedited during a global pandemic and without meaningful community consultation, will lead to a more promising future for Ithaca College. Instead, this type of institutional shortsightedness undermines the credibility and ethos of our institution in ways that are already being felt by staff, faculty, students, alumni, and local community members alike.

The February 1st email from “IC Alumni Relations,” entitled “Ensuring IC's Long-Term Sustainability and Vibrancy for All,” states that “IC is well-positioned to weather these times and to thrive in the future. Its ability to do so will only be made possible through proactive strategy and action.” Because the SLT has remained confident that they are in positive fiscal standing, the timing and the pace of these firings, as well as the lack of transparency concerning the budgets that justify them, leads us to question their necessity. We therefore urge consideration of available alternative measures, such as those taken at Hampshire College, and we advocate for budget disclosure as well as robust collective governance and community collaboration moving forward.

Many of us never imagined that members of our community—our mentors, our friends, and our colleagues—would lose their livelihood during a pandemic. We have heard from 37 faculty so far who have been comfortable to publicly speak about their work status at Ithaca College, though the number will likely be as high as 126 full time equivalent positions. Because faculty on part-time contracts are only considered a portion of a “full time equivalent” position, it is unclear how many people will lose their jobs to meet this number. Of those who have shared that they have been given notice, 7 are Ithaca College alumni, 2 are parents of Ithaca College students, 5 are BIPOC, and 11 people have served the IC community for 15+ years. These are people who have helped shape our lives. What the recent email calls “resizing a community” has real, long-lasting social and psychological impacts on this very community.

As the most numbered constituents of the IC community, we alumni are the guardians of a vast institutional memory. We have gone on to global careers and serve as the broadest interface with the public. We represent a wealth of diverse perspectives and, as donors, have financial stakes in the institution. We deserve to be heard.

Accordingly, we, the undersigned alumni, oppose the changes proposed in The Shape of Our College and request that faculty and staff layoffs stop immediately. As one step towards an alternative, we pledge to earmark our future donations in service of preserving these programs and positions.

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1. Sarah Grunberg, Culture and Communication, ‘08, Instructional Designer, Cornell University
2. Sara-Maria Sorentino, Politics, ‘08, Assistant Professor of Gender & Race Studies, The University of Alabama
3. Anna Gardner, Art History and Film, Photography, and Visual Art, Inaugural Presidential Fellow, ‘19, Development and Communications Associate, Children of Promise, NYC
4. Samantha DiFalco, History and Cinema Production, ‘18, Organizer, Food & Water Watch
5. Christopher Zivalich, Journalism & Women’s Studies, ‘12, Public Health Advocate
6. Liz Alexander, Politics, Modern Languages, ‘18
7. Greg Peterson, History, 2009, Executive Director, Colorado Ag Water Alliance
8. Jessica Brock, Park - Journalism, 2007, Senior manager for social media - Smithsonian Channel
9. Kristen Harrison, Documentary Study & Production, 2020, Freelance Photographer
10. Jack Haurin, Environmental Studies 2008, 4th Grade Teacher, Philadelphia School District
11. Allie Clingan, 2009, Therapist
12. Jason Lipeles, Image Text MFA '18, Alum
13. Alexander Cammy, Television + Radio, 2016, Senior Analyst, Marketing & Partner Insights @ViacomCBS
14. Kristina Keenan, Emerging Media, 2018, Producee
15. Morgan Volk, 2020, Audio Engineer
16. Jenna Mortenson, Communication management & design (Dept of Strategic Communication), education studies minor, 2019.         
17. Eliana Berger, English & Writing '20, Research Assistant
18. Matthew Hornick, Journalism '18, Sports Reporter, Bristol Press
19. Catherine Barr, School of Music, Class of 2018, Pk-8 Music Teacher
20. Kristin N. McClune, 2011/HS&HHS, Children's Librarian/EMT
21. Elena Roig, Class of 2017, History Department, Full-time graduate student
22. Elijah Breton, Sport Studies, Communication Studies; 2016, Inside Sales Representative/Amazon Web Services
23. Mara Hileman, Studio Art, ‘12, Museum professional
24. Alexander Justice Moore, Politics, 2007, President of the Senior Class of 2007, Chief Development Officer, DC Central Kitchen
25. Hannah R Gignoux, Politics, English; 2018 Political Science Masters Student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
26. Wyatt Maszczak, Park '23, Student
27. Noah Schaefer, Recreation & Leisure Studies '19        
28. Margaret Butler, Anthropology, 2017, PhD Candidate, Anthropology, Northwestern University
29. Amelia Blevins, Writing, '12, Editor, O'Reilly Media
30. Jonathan Riss, Music Education '09, Director of Choral Activities and 8th Grade Team Coordinator, Farragut Middle School/Hastings High School, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Director of Music, Irvington Presbyterian Church, Irvington, NY; Frequent national, regional, and state honor choir guest accompanist
31. Matt Price, Class of 2020, Sports Media Multimedia Journalist, WLUC-TV (Marquette, MI)
32. Vanessa Calaban, School of Music ‘11
33. Evan Popp, Journalism, '18, Reporter, Maine People's Alliance
34. Jackie Brodeur, Cinema Production '12, Video Editor
35. Raffaele Nicoletta, Anthropology & Native American Studies, class of 2020
36. Stephanie McCulloch, Environmental Studies and Sciences, Dance; 2016, Research Assistant at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
37. Nicole Pouy, B.A. Environmental Studies, French and Honors Program minor, 2016, Graduate Student, Vermont Law School
38. Kaitlyn Gough, Anthropology Major, dual Politics + Women’s & Gender Studies Minor, Class of 2018        
39. Alexandra Rose, Writing Class of 2020
40. Lindsay (Pehmoeller) Cutler, Anthropology and Politics; 2010, U.S. Department of State
41. Taylor Reeves Chemistry, ‘16, Attorney
42. Julia LaJuett, Cinema & Photography; 2017, Post Production Coordinator
43. Summer Killian, BA, Sociology/Writing Minor, 2001 Registered Nurse, Cayuga Medical Center
44. Roswell Ecker, Sociology 2018
45. Jordan Kolb, Roy H. Park School of Communications, 2017, UX Designer
46. Emma Sheinbaum, Writing, 2018, Communications & Development Coordinator for Department of History at Columbia University of New York
47. Emma Kast, Politics, 2014 International Politics PhD Candidate, Aberystwyth University
48. Amanda Reffsin, 2012, major: culture and communications, minor: deaf studies  
49. Miles Surrey, Sports Media, '11, Journalist, The Ringer
50. Maddison Murnane, Journalism, 2018, Law student
51. John Jacobson, 2017, eCornell Instructional Designer
52. Stephanie Foulkes, Sociology 2007, Admissions Manager at Vista Life Innovations
53. Courtney Denardo, 2016, environmental studies and nutrition promotion
54. Marissa Pappas, 2020, NYPIRG Project Coordinator at SUNY Cortland
55. Rebecca Newman, Environmental Sciences major and Philosophy minor; '16, MBA student at Bentley University
56. Alan Hoff, COM ‘87, Managing Director, Monadnock Media Inc.
57. Cassandra Moore, Planned Studies, 2016         
58. Paula Merkle, Anthropology major and Environmental Studies minor; 2018
59. Jessica Kuts, Economics & Politics; 2019, Bartender
60. Sam Castonguay, 2018, Sociology, Sociology Graduate Student and ADVANCE Research Assistant, Washington State University
61. Adam Netzer Zimmer, Anthropology & Music, 2013, Ph.D. Candidate & NSF-Fulbright Fellow in Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst/University of Iceland
62. Micaela Wilner, Television and Radio, Honors Program; 2020, Associate Producer/Office PA
63. Griffin Taylor, 2016-2017, Freshman Anthropology Ph.D student
64. Harrison Malkin, Politics 2020, Writer, cook
65. Alexander Perry, Sociology, Spanish; 2020
66. Maxwell Bednarcyk, TVR '20, Assembly Technician/Operator
67. Chris H. Kim, Sociology, 2018, Research Technician at Cornell University; Research Intern at the Pan American Development Foundation
68. David K. Johnson, Philosophy and Religion, 2015, PhD Candidate, Johns Hopkins University
69. Colleen Keifer, 1990 BFA Theatrical Production Arts, Kindergarten Teacher - ICSD
70. Jennifer Chen, Environmental Studies, Politics & Italian; 2008
71. James Buzzell, Class of 2012, B.A. Philosophy, Minor in Politics, Land Use Planner, City of Lewiston Maine
72. Ron Basak-smith, 2011 sociology and politics, Ceo sana packaging
73. Ryah Belford, Culture & Communication, 2011
74. Mary McKean, Environmental Studies; Minors in Communication Studies and Outdoor Pursuits 2015, National Park Service Planning Specialist
75. Tara Eng, Documentary Studies & Production, '20        
76. Kaylee Warner, ENVS 2018, Americorps Mentor
77. Nicole Hendrickson, B.S. Business Administration, '08, Senior Director of Social, The Dodo
78. Kalia C Armbruster, Writing, 2007 Senior Associate, Verbal Branding
79. Shea O'Neill, History; 2007 graduate, Vice President of Research
80. Sarah Tate Richmond, B.A., Politics/Minor in Writing, '88, VP, Development
81. Page Schrock, 2003 BA Politics, minor in Economics, Solution Consultant
82. Ernest Backus, School of Music BM Music Performance / Education, Music Theory '07, MM Music Education '14, High School Chorus and Music Theory, Vestal, NY
83. Norah Baker (née Sweeney), Journalism, 2012, Higher education administrator
84. Jennifer Pham, BM Music Education ‘14, Band Teacher, Endwell, NY
85. Emily Waltz, Bachelor in Performance and Music Education 2011, Freelance musician and teacher
86. Jonathan Shea, Television-Radio; 2018, Production Manager
87. Rebecca Dearden, Cinema and Photography '18
88. Yana Mazurkevich, Cinema & Photography ‘18
89. Terrence Brophy, HSHP 2018, Graduate Student
90. Nicholas Swenson, TVR; 2018
91. Adam Weber, Psychology, 2007, Cleantech Specialist
92. Rachel Warren, Integrated Marketing and Communications ‘19, Sephora HQ - Merchandising
93. Elizabeth Hoag, Anthropology, 1994, Lecturer, Anthropology, Cleveland Institute of Art
94. Yana Mazurkevich, Cinema & Photography ‘18
95. Ellen Tucker, Physical Therapy, 2020, Physical Therapist
96. Ryan J Kresge, ENVS; '18, Farm Manager, Zena Farmstead
97. Dylan Lyons, Journalism 2014, Senior Content Producer, Babbel
98. Susie Agostine, Occupational Therapy BS 2015 & MS 2016 Doctoral Student, Occupational Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
99. Kathleen Hamm, Health Sciences and Human Performance; Class of 2001
100. Christopher Walsh, Music 2016
101. Amanda R. Livingston, Writing, 2017
102. Diana Castillo, CSCRE, Park, H&S-2020, Community outreach fellow
103. Sara Gardner, TV-R; Honors; 2013, Senior Marketing Manager, Soko Glam
104. GiGi Muise, Alumni, Psychology, ‘17, Social worker
105. Kasey Gregory, Class of 2019: Anthropology major and Religious Studies minor    
106. Morgan Brunson, Sociology and Theater Arts; 2019
107. Meg (Rindfleisch) Sova, Journalism 2012, Multimedia Production Manager, Temple University Office of Digital Education    
108. Sam Braverman, Cinema & Photography, '18              
109. Justin Le, Writing & Politics, '18, Transcription Editor  
110. Julie Roberts, Park School of Communications, 2006, Public Defender        
111. Lea Tambellini, 2006, LCSW Trauma-Focused Therapist    
112. Michelle Gadot, Park School, 2006, Senior Director of Planning and External Affairs
113. Justin Barwick, Journalism, 2016, Proposal Writer
114. Adam Tarpey, Music Education and Voice Performance, Whalen School of Music; 2019, Vocal Music Teacher, Newfield Central School District; Newfield, NY
115. Sam Boyles, Psychology; 2014, Social Worker, Tompkins County
116. Shaun Poust, Journalism Major, Philosophy Minor 2012, Doctoral Candidate in Philosophy at Temple University
117. Brigid Kuehn, Politics, 1994, Director, Off-Campus Credit Programs, ILR School/Cornell University
118. Rachel E Walker, Alumni, Class of 2010, History Department, Assistant Professor of History
119. Lauren Suna, 2020, Instructional Design Associate eCornell
120. Lane Tobias, Park School, 2006, Senior Consultant, State and Local Government Advisory Services
121. Stella Rivera, B.M. in Vocal Performance, 2019
122. Kevin McCall, Journalism, 2012    
123. Rachel Vanderpool Rosario, Dept of Sociology, 2007, Registered Dietitian and Owner of Insight Nutrition & Wellness Counseling
124. Daniel Lowell Weller, Anthropology, Biology, and ENVS (2012), Statistician, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
125. Emma Sheinbaum, Writing, 2018, Columbia University Communications & Development Coordinator
126. Robert Hoyuela, Chemistry; 2012, District Math/Science Curriculum Coordinator
127. Aisha Mae Mughal, Politics, CSCRE, Modern Languages, Class of 2020
128. Ryan Bince, Speech Communication; 2013, PhD Student, Northwestern University
129. Caroline Anson, Class of 2020
130. Audrey Lang, Theatre Studies, 2020, Playwright
131. Ryan Pricce, ENVS 19, Graduate Student
132. Robert Oliver, Politics 2013
133. Kimberlyn David, Culture & Communication, 2006, Self-employed
134. Adam Moore, TV-R; 2004, Film/Television Colorist
135. Rebecca Smith Moore, Integrated Marketing Communications; 2005, High School Counselor
136. Brittany Kenyon-Flatt, Anthropology, '13, National Science Foundation Biology Research Fellow
137. Abigail Harrington, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology; Aging Studies Minor 2015, Speech-Language Pathologist
138. Kathryn White, B.A. Environmental Studies, Minor Outdoor Pursuits '19, Forestry Worker at City of Aurora Forestry and Beekeeper at The Best Bees Company
139. Macy O’Hearn, Anthropology, Class of 2014, Editorial Assistant at Custom Media Co.
140. Samantha Wolfe, Sociology; 2021, Non-profit professional
141. Shelby Buche, Sociology & Women’s and Gender Studies, 2018
142. Andrea Levine, Health Promotion & Physical Education; 2009, Special Education Teacher
143. Lindsey Humphreys, History, 2010, Human Resources Manager, Easterseals UCP of North Carolina and Virginia
144. Owen Perry, Journalism, 2003      
145. Leza Raffel, Blue Gold Society Member 15+ years, class of 1989 President of Communication Solutions Group, IC parent
146. Andrea Bichan, Philosophy and Journalism; 2011, Development and Organizational Consultant
147. Julianna Diamond, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 2019  
148. Zoe Couse (Mendrysa), 2019, Biology, NIH Researcher
149. Sophia Johnson, 2019, Emerging Media with Environmental Studies and Web Programming minors, Marketing Specialist at a tech company
150. Michelle Boule, Class of 2013, Cinema and Photography Major, Anthropology Minor, Photography Manager Daniel McCarey, Esq. BA, 2006
151. Rachel Walker, History (H&S) Class of 2010, Assistant Professor of History
152. Aya Hoffman, B.A. Anthropology, B.S. Television-Radio; Class of 2012; Associate Attorney, Nixon Peabody LLP
153. Anna Faxon, Art History, 2018, Museum project manager
154. Matthew A. Prokosch, History; 2013, Teacher at Ithaca High School
155. Logan Mednick, Sound Recording Technology ‘18, Graduate Student at Northeastern University
156. Jeff Herz, Alumni '91, MarTech Program Manager
157. Karlem Sivira Gimenez, Park School of Communications, 2012, Teacher
158. Zoe Miller, Environmental Studies major, 2016, Farmer/Artist
159. Rachel Steiner, Cinema & Photography, 2013, Content Creator
160. Rachel Barone, Environmental Science (ENVS), ‘17
161. Lynda Chryst, M.M. in Collaborative Piano, '20, Guitar Center Lessons Manager and Church Organist/Pianist
162. Brianna Pulver, Writing department (major), art history department (minor), class of 2019, Editorial Assistant at NBME
163. Avigyle Carmeli, Television and Radio major, Politics minor 2013        
164. Adam Iaizzi, Physics, 2011, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow placed at the Department of Energy
165. Alex Durham, Writing '19        
166. Luna Olavarria Gallegos, Roy H. Park School of Communications Documentary Studies 2017
167. Tara Stacy, Park School, Journalism/Psych, 2018        
168. Patrick DiCiaccio, BA Biology, 2008, REALTOR
169. Brett Shiel, BA Music, education policy consultant
170. Maris Krauss, Department of Psychology ‘17
171. Lima Hossain, Class of 2017, Economics-Mathematics, Minor Outdoor Pursuits
172. Karl Siewertsen, Music Education/Performance; 2005, Music Teacher
173. Lillian Christian, Environmental Studies and Philosophy, May 2020
174. Erin Tooley, Psychology ‘05, Associate Professor of Psychology, Roger Williams University
175. Timothy Rosenberg, Music Education and Performance, 2005, Instructor of Saxophone, Bethune-Cookman University, Course Director of Music Business, Full Sail University
176. Julia C Wolinski, Anthropology, 2015, Medical Researcher
177. Thy Doan Mai Le, Physics and Astronomy, 2020, Physics, PhD graduate student, Georgetown University
178. Steven Derderian, Journalism, Class of 2015, Communications Manager
179. Ezekiel Wright, Writing and Politics, class of 2007, PhD candidate, University of Minnesota
180. Michelle Rampal, B.M. Education and Performance, School of Music, 2000, PhD Candidate in Music Ed, NYU Steinhardt. Assistant Professor of Music/Music Education, Molloy College
181. Olivia Sod, Department of Communication Studies; 2017          
182. Sara CleRy, Park School, 08, Account Executive
183. Sydney Appelbaum, Psychology 2017, Clinical Social Worker
184. Andrew Kim, MM Conducting ‘20, Doctoral Candidate/Graduate Teaching Assistant in Orchestral Conducting
185. Christian Cassidy-Amstutz, Writing BA, 2017, Grant Coordinator, Central PA Food Bank
186. Kaity Matrassi MLDD; 2017, Columbia University, PhD Candidate
187. Harvey Epstein, 1989, Assembly member
188. Nancy Webster, Sociology 2010, Tompkins County Recycling Specialist; Yoga Teacher
189. Nathonn Bates, 2010 Environmental Studies, Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist, Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management
190. Brenna O’Donnell, Writing Major, IMC Minor, Class of 2019, Production Assistant at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
191. Max Robinson, Psychology, December 2019, Graduate Student- MSW
192. John Keegan, Politics/Computer Science, 1992, Senior IT Consultant/L.S.U.
193. Joshua Jensen, Film BFA, 2020, Payments Processor
194. Emmanuel Berrido, M.M. Composition; 2018, Composer, Arranger, Performer. Ph.D. student, University of Pittsburgh

Click here to sign or copy/paste:

https://forms.gle/EcesUU3peMWJHPUt7