Physics, anthropology, and religious studies are included in the undergraduate programs that may be eliminated at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. University officials released its list of courses on the chopping block amid budget woes.
School officials initiated a two-pronged review in late 2022 after seeing enrollment decline by roughly 2,500 students — and the associated loss of revenue. From the beginning, the program cuts were met with student protests and pushback from faculty members.
UNCG Chancellor Frank D. Gilliam Jr. says several metrics were used to determine what would be cut, including student credit hour production, personnel costs and state appropriations. Gilliam says the school is now and has been on solid financial footing.
"However, we are trying to be proactive given the headwinds facing higher education," says Gilliam. "And given that we’ve lost 2,500 students. The state appropriation is a function of how many students you have, or at least how many student credit hours you produce, which is a proxy for how many students you have."
The current recommendation will impact a total of 25 faculty and three staff members. Gilliam will make the final decision on February 1. He says students who are in majors that will be discontinued will be able to get their degree in that major before that program dissolves.
Administrators will hold a series of forums for feedback in the coming days.