The chancellor of UMass Amherst is responding to Governor Deval Patrick's state-wide budget cuts by slashing $12 Million from the university's budget. Right now, that means a hiring freeze and cuts in campus services. Some of the professors say the chancellor's approach is reckless and will only hurt the school in the long-run.

"We asked the chancellor awhile back that, in hard times, to protect tuition and keep the university from having layoffs, and he wouldn't agree to any of that," said John Brigham, professor of Political Science at UMass Amherst.

Many professors are deeply concerned that the future of the school, at least for now, is in jeopardy. Budget cuts announced by UMass Chancellor Robert Holub will reduce campus spending by about five percent.

"It's a very difficult and painful time, and Umass Amherst is sharing in those cuts and difficult decisions," said Ed Blaguszewski, Director of News and Information at UMass Amherst.

Some of those decisions include a hiring freeze with the exception of critical positions, and one-time cuts to campus services. That, the university says will protect students from tuition increases and cuts in financial aid for this academic year.

"What the chancellor has done is made some tough choices, and let's strategically decide whats the best route for moving forward and have a discussion with the faculty on that," Blaguszewski said.

But, the Massachusetts Society of Professors, which represents 1,400 faculty and librarians at UMass, says there has been very little discussion involved.

"We hope that we'll be consulted, but we don't feel we've been consulted lately," Brigham said.

Professors are concerned about what effect the cuts will have on their classes, based on the timing.

“This throws us into chaos in the middle of the fall semester,” said Dan Clawson, professor of Sociology. “This proposal cuts into the heart of the academic mission of the campus, and students will be the ones who suffer as their education is undermined.”

UMass is in the process of constructing new buildings and services for the campus. Professors, including Brigham want some of the money in the capital fund used to aid this financial crisis.

"Some of that is $40 Million that we could tap before talking about cuts," Brigham said.

In a letter sent to the campus community Thursday, Holub said the budget cuts will apply to this fiscal year only. But, there is no indication what actions may be needed in the future, depending on how the economy recovers. Holub is inviting the university community to offer any suggestions that will help save money and limit cuts to important services.