The faculty union at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City has accused leadership of ‘blindsiding’ them with course cancellations as part of budget cuts amid a $22 million deficit, the largest in SVA’s 79-year history. The school's interim president Christopher J. Cyphers announced these measures on July 1, nearly a year after 30 employees were laid off due to financial challenges.

According to Cyphers, reasons for the budget reductions include the ‘ongoing dismantling of education and the arts by the federal government,’ a 40% drop in enrollment since 2019, and a shrinking international student population. By fall 2025, this demographic made up 45% of undergraduate students and 53% of graduates.

In an Instagram statement on August 7, the faculty union expressed shock that even department chairs were unaware of the cancellations of 'a slew of courses and dozens of foundation blocks,' regardless of student enrollment. This revelation has sparked concerns about the future direction of SVA's curriculum and educational offerings.