Effects of Higher Ed Budget Cuts, One Year Later
By Meghan Hall
Published March 12, 2026
Students across campus have noted that the start of this semester feels vastly different from even a year ago. With fewer course options, fewer professors, and a significant lack of campus third spaces, Plymouth’s winter feels slightly colder and harsher than before.
At the center of these changes is New Hampshire’s state budget. Known as HB-2, the bill passed in July 2025 at a time when NH already ranked 50th out of 50 in higher education funding per capita, according to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. Public universities in New Hampshire have long operated on the leanest budgets in the nation, and HB-2 reduced the state’s contribution to the University System of New Hampshire by another 15%.
Given this context, it may have seemed logical for PSU administration to look for fat to cut across campus. But for students, Plymouth State was already stretched thin. In recent years, Spring Fling has been critiqued for repeating headliners, club allocations have shrunk, and faculty, especially those with specialized expertise and those in smaller programs, have already been stretched thin.
There was little else that felt wholly extraneous to cut, so reductions began largely at the departmental level.
In the fall, a separation incentive package was offered to select full-time, tenured professors across campus. Many of the 17 faculty who accepted the SIP taught in the Humanities, Cultures, and Communications umbrella—English, History, and Communications and Media Studies—though notably, two Biology professors also took the SIP, leaving an already tiny program.
Living in such a small campus community like Plymouth, the departure of this many faculty members had an immediate impact. Jeremiah Githu, a Cell and Molecular Biology major and a Junior, reflected on how the budget cuts have affected him. “We are no longer going to be offered classes with the same regularity. Some of my necessary classes are switching to only being offered every other spring,” instead of every spring, he said. This requires tighter scheduling and leaves students less room overall to explore their niche interests and specializations. Particularly in a field like Biology—but also even something like English or History—specialization is what allows students the opportunity to stand out in the New Hampshire workforce post-graduation.
Beyond these losses, a broader sense of uncertainty lingers on campus. Budget reductions intersect with other fundamental campus changes that, while not inherently tied to state legislation, have compounded the feeling that PSU is more fragmented than ever.
Lamson Library has finally reopened after being closed all of January and most of this February, requiring repairs from water damage, while Mary Lyon Lawn remains completely fenced off for the foreseeable future, eliminating another iconic communal space. Draper & Maynard now follows a tighter hourly schedule, with student access being heavily restricted outside class hours. These changes appear to stem from safety and cost concerns at a time when the university is working to protect every dollar it has.
Over winter break, the Museum of the Mountains quietly closed its doors. The museum closed following the departure of three, full-time staff. “All of the people involved with it have officially moved on, aside from the student staff, which they’re not going to ask us to come back,” Thomas Fifield, a former employee of the museum, said. Fifield emphasized that the museum was free and open to the public. “I think that was really important, because it really just made it like a totally open book to anybody that wanted to learn anything about the local areas and about their communities.”
The cumulative effect of these transitions is reshaping how students connect with one another and with Plymouth State University itself. For a lot of students, it’s depressing. Amid the towering snowbanks and muddy ice puddles across campus, it is easy to feel isolated, even though there is still life here. Despite everything, as Githu noted, “there are so many professors putting in the work.” Amidst all the winter gray, there is still something that this community cares for at Plymouth State. Something about it makes it special, and it would be disappointing to give up now, especially considering the sheer amount of student passion seen on campus just a year ago. From talks of student working groups to holding protests, this community has truly put in the work to speak its mind.
Even at the legislative level, Senators and House representatives are realizing the massive strain and faults of HB-2. Senate Bill 407, if passed, would give $300 to the university system for each full-time, New Hampshire student that enrolls in order to reduce tuition costs, according to the Keene Sentinel. Another bill, Senate Bill 604, would restore $14 million set to be eliminated from next year’s university system budget. These potential changes reflect a continued belief in the value of New Hampshire education, despite its often intangible benefits to young adults.
But, even closer to home, at the university level, efforts are being made to strengthen support systems and maintain space for genuine human connection. Matthew Toms, who runs the Office of Student Advocacy and Wellbeing at PSU, emphasized the importance of cultivating positive third spaces for students. “It is precisely in moments like these, when the chaos and uncertainty of the events on a global, national, and state level get overwhelming, that it is imperative that we focus on our micro-communities and taking care of each other,” he said in an email. Micro-communities, in this sense, are found in academic units, classes, sports teams, or among coworkers. “It has been really heartwarming, reassuring, and empowering to see the many ways, both big and small, that students, staff, and faculty have been doing that this year, and it makes me proud to be part of such a caring and compassionate community,” Toms said.
This semester feels like a turning point for Plymouth State. How we move forward may depend on state legislation, administrative decision-making, and student resolve. It may be easier to sit in cynicism and become part of the bleakness, but that only deepens it. While we are here, we carry some responsibility to care for our minds and bodies and to make the best of our world—this small school nestled in the White Mountains.