> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • The Evolution of Race in Admissions
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point Pulls Back From Plan to Cut 6 Liberal-Arts Programs

By  Terry Nguyen
April 10, 2019
U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point said Wednesday that a highly controversial plan to cut six academic programs is now off the table.

In March 2018 the university proposed cutting 13 majors, primarily in the liberal arts, while adding 16 vocational programs. The plan was announced in the face of declining enrollment and a $4.5-million budget deficit. The cuts could have led to layoffs for tenured professors and other faculty members.

Following widespread criticism, the number of proposed program cuts was scaled down in November to six, with art, French, geography, geoscience, German, and history remaining on the chopping block.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point said Wednesday that a highly controversial plan to cut six academic programs is now off the table.

In March 2018 the university proposed cutting 13 majors, primarily in the liberal arts, while adding 16 vocational programs. The plan was announced in the face of declining enrollment and a $4.5-million budget deficit. The cuts could have led to layoffs for tenured professors and other faculty members.

Following widespread criticism, the number of proposed program cuts was scaled down in November to six, with art, French, geography, geoscience, German, and history remaining on the chopping block.

In a news release sent on Wednesday to The Chronicle, the university said those six majors would be retained, with updated curricula and additional degree options. The geography and geoscience majors will be combined into a geospatial science program, according to the release, and two B.F.A. degrees, in graphic design and in integrative studio practice, will be added.

ADVERTISEMENT

The university said that budget reductions from resignations and retirements had mitigated its financial struggle, so the cuts are no longer needed. In October 2017 another University of Wisconsin campus, in Superior, announced a plan to streamline its offerings by eliminating two dozen programs, including political science and sociology.

Bernie Patterson, the Stevens Point chancellor, said in the news release that the decision had followed constructive conversations with student leaders and faculty and staff members. He emphasized that the liberal arts would be integrated across the university’s curriculum.

“Our new direction has been crafted by many voices,” Patterson said. “We have all listened and learned. I am grateful for the dialogue and look forward to collectively implementing these bold changes on behalf of our students and our community.”

Follow Terry Nguyen on Twitter at @terrygtnguyen, or email her at terry.nguyen@chronicle.com.

Correction (4/11/2019, 1:54 p.m.): This article originally misstated the year when the Superior campus said it would eliminate two dozen programs. It was October 2017, not 2018. The error has been corrected.

ADVERTISEMENT

A version of this article appeared in the April 26, 2019, issue.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Teaching & LearningFinance & Operations
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Content

  • Faculty Members Call On U. of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Chancellor to Resign Over Proposed Program Cuts
  • This University Proposed Cutting 13 Mostly Liberal-Arts Programs. It May Have Saved 7.
  • U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point Proposes Cutting 13 Programs, Mostly in Liberal Arts
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Blogs
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin