UNI looks to eliminate 16 degree programs

University of Northern Iowa officials are recommending elimination of 16 degree programs that have seen limited interest in recent years, and in many cases have no students currently enrolled.

UNI leaders will seek state Board of Regents approval of the recommended cuts Wednesday during a telephonic meeting. The agenda information was released Thursday.

Students enrolled in the programs will be allowed to finish, though new admissions will be suspended immediately if regents approve the plan.

Of the programs that have students enrolled, the numbers are low, typically less than 10, according to the information provided by UNI. Elimination of some of the programs should result in minimal savings, though in some cases cost savings are not expected because the programs have no stand-alone courses or faculty.

UNI Provost Gloria Gibson was out of town Thursday and unavailable for comment, but university spokesman James O'Connor said campus leaders spent months assessing academic programs.

Universities around the country, including fellow regents schools the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, are considering program cuts as they look for ways to trim budgets and strengthen offerings.

UNI's recommended cuts include bachelor's degrees in computer information systems, math with a computer science emphasis, geology with an environmental science emphasis, air quality, Asian studies, American studies, political science teaching and anthropology teaching; and graduate programs in art with a studio emphasis, art education and double languages.