The University of Akron is cutting almost 20% of its degrees and degree tracks.
The board of trustees unanimously approved the changes that grew out of the university's recent academic program review at its meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
About 965 students are enrolled in the affected programs, which the university said is less than 5% of the student population. Enrollment for fall 2018 is not yet available, but it was about 22,100 in fall 2017.
In addition to phasing out less viable degrees — such as a master's in sociology or a bachelor's in interior design — the University of Akron also plans to invest in the programs it does see success in, such as cybersecurity and polymer science.
The university's academic program review began in fall 2017 at the department level and included input from faculty. A strategic planning process is expected to begin this fall.
Eighty of the university's 414 degree or degree tracks will be discontinued, according to the university. Degree tracks are specialized concentrations within particular degrees.
Students enrolled in the programs being phased out will be able to complete their degrees, but admission to those programs now has stopped.
The university will phase out 10 doctorate programs, 33 master's degree programs, 20 bachelor's degree programs and 17 associate's degree programs.
The degrees and degree tracks being phased out range from an associate's degree program in hospitality management/culinary arts to a bachelor's degree in geography/geographic information systems to an MBA in business analytics. The university's Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences would see the most cuts, losing 23 degrees or degree tracks. That includes doctorates in history and sociology, master's and bachelor's degree tracks in mathematics (though the university noted the applied mathematics programs were still strong) and a variety of bachelor's degree tracks in fashion merchandising.
The university took a number of factors into consideration when deciding which programs to eliminate, including market demand, revenue and expenditure and enrollment. Close to a quarter of the programs being phased out had no graduates last fiscal year, according to information from the university. Some programs, like those in the fashion merchandising tracks, have a lot of competition in the region (namely at nearby Kent State University), which also factored into the decision. A Q&A provided by the university called this approach a "better and more efficient use of public resources."
A fact sheet stated that no "regular faculty, contract professionals or staff positions" were expected to be eliminated because of these programs ending.
Wayne Hill, vice president, chief communication and marketing officer, said many of those positions are held by tenured faculty members whose responsibilities will be shifted as their current areas of focus are taught out. This will likely result in less need for part-time faculty.
On the other hand, the university is planning to add 32 jobs in fall 2019 in areas it plans to invest in: 23 new tenure-track positions, eight non-tenuretrack positions and one contract professional. Some of these new positions will be interdisciplinary appointments, such as a joint assignment in Computer Information Systems and Computer Science.
The areas of investment are focused in cybersecurity, criminal justice and emergency services; polymer and chemical sciences; health and biosciences; performing arts; digital communication; and business, law and education.