When the Florida State Legislature voted on their annual budget back in March, they slashed hundreds of millions in funding for public universities. Now, the campuses in Fort Lauderdale and Treasure Coast are officially on the chopping block.

FAU’s president Mary Jane Saunders spread the news in an email she sent to students Friday. In the email, Saunders also told students the SeaTech campus in Dania Beach would not receive state funding any longer. Instead, the campus will support itself through research grants from here on out. Departments across the university can also expect a two to four percent cut in funding, according to her email. These are just a few measures Saunders outlined in her email, which are meant to help the university deal with its $24.7 million in cuts.

If these measures are taken, the 247 students on the Treasure Coast campus will have to clear out by July 1. The programs offered at Treasure Coast will move to either the Harbor Branch campus in Fort Pierce or the university’s campus in Jupiter. As for the Fort Lauderdale campus, the 569 students have until June 2013 to explore their options. Programs offered there will be moved to the Davie and Boca campuses.

Saunders ended the email by saying “development of this cost-cutting plan has been an arduous, painful process, and I thank everyone who has contributed to it. Working together we will weather this storm and keep our University strong as we move ahead.”

The UP will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.