UW Low-Enrollment Programs Chosen for Possible Elimination
Five low-enrollment academic programs at the University of Wyoming have been selected for possible elimination by UW Provost Kate Miller.
UW President Laurie Nichols and the UW Board of Trustees, which had the final say on program eliminations, will consider the programs recommended for during the trustees’ regular meeting next week, according to a UW news release.
“Regular reviews of academic programs are important to make sure a university’s offerings align with demand, the university’s mission and quality expectations,” Miller said in a statement. “My recommendations are intended to help assure that the university’s resources are deployed efficiently and effectively, while keeping student needs as our highest priority.”
The UW office of academic affairs began reviews of the low-enrollment programs in March 2016. The five programs recommended for elimination - Bachelor of Science in secondary education for industrial technical education, Bachelor of Arts in Russian, Master of Arts in French and German, Master of Science in neuroscience- were selected following and extensive review of 12-low enrollment academic programs.
If the programs are eliminated, students already in the programs would be allowed to complete their degrees. Only 13 students would be affected.
The provost also recommended modifications and improvements for four other programs, Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, Master of Arts in Sociology, Master of Arts in Philosophy and Ph.D. in Statistics. These departments are all being considered for a merger with another department in a similar field.
UW’s Science and Math Teaching Center was also recommended by Miller for dissolution as an administrative unit, to be replaced by a university-wide center to train science, technology, engineering and mathematics educators.