The Annenberg School for Communication is located at 3620 Walnut St.
Credit: Jean ParkPenn's Annenberg School for Communication will not renew the contracts of its part-time lecturers for the next academic year as the school grapples with increasing financial uncertainty.
Annenberg Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser notified the lecturers of the decision in an email sent on March 19. The "decision was made after deep consideration and analysis," and reflects the school's "current financial reality," according to an Annenberg spokesperson.
"Due to our financial constraints, the immediate termination of three active federal grants, and uncertainties felt by all of us across the university, we have had to make the difficult decision to pause the renewal of all part-time lecturers for the academic year 2025-26," an Annenberg spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
In an email sent to one part-time lecturer that was obtained by the DP, Banet-Weiser wrote that as the school works towards "stabilizing" its budget, she was "hopeful that we will be able to welcome you back to the undergraduate program in the future."
"However, given the significant challenges we are facing and the uncertainty about the future, I cannot guarantee that we will be able to rehire you," the email continued. "We have greatly appreciated your contributions and recognize the dedication and hard work you have consistently demonstrated."
Dwayne Booth — who teaches an Annenberg course titled "The Underground Press of the 1960s and 70s and the Future of Mass Communication" — wrote in a statement to the DP that he found out his course was canceled for the upcoming school year in what he called a “troubling” email from the administration.
Booth wrote that “the near total capitulation from the university as a whole to react to the threats from MAGA thugs and bullies to pull funding over DEIA, academic freedom, and free speech issues” has contributed “to the fear and paranoia that continue to grip the campus.”
He alleged that Penn's senior administration thinks “refraining from pushing back against such draconian tactics of censorship will somehow eventually ameliorate the suffering and deter the collapse of higher education.”
Al Hunt — who was also notified on Wednesday that his contract would not be renewed for next year — wrote to the DP that "in light of the financial constraints inflicted on the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg's decision to pause part-time lecturers is appropriate."
"I have had twenty-five wonderful years at Penn with hundreds of extraordinary students, a number of whom I stay in touch with," Hunt added. "I love Penn which will come out of this ordeal, still, a great University."
On March 10, Penn froze hiring across the University with the exception of “critical positions, student workers, and those funded by active grants or restricted sources.” Requests for employment must now be approved by the provost and senior executive vice president.
Penn also implemented a freeze on staff salary mid-year adjustments, along with a limit on “non-essential spending.” The University instituted an additional five-percent reduction in non-compensation expenses, according to the announcement.
On March 19, the Trump administration announced a freeze of $175 million in federal funding to Penn which a White House tweet said was a result of Penn’s “policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.” This announcement came after changes to funding policies from the National Institutes of Health — from which Penn stands to lose $240 million.
In a February statement after the NIH cuts, Penn President Larry Jameson wrote in an announcement to the University community that the funding changes would “severely harm” Penn’s operations and research capabilities.
“This is not simply an accounting change; it is far more serious with significant implications for Penn’s research programs,” Jameson wrote.
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