OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University is the latest Utah school to announce the academic programs on campus that will be eliminated due to higher education budget cuts mandated in the recent legislative session.
The announcement comes days after Utah State University shared the programs it would be cutting.
A committee made up of Weber State officials was tasked with coming up the list of programs to eliminate, using criteria such as future demand, enrollment, and percentage of graduating students, as well as cost per student. In its presentation, the school said it took a student-centered approach for the cuts in hopes of increasing enrollment and retention.
The cuts directed by the legislature aim to reduce redundancy among state universities and colleges.
'Is this actually real?' Utah State students cope with majors being cut:
"The intent of this bill, really, is to help us become more effective and efficient with our higher education program," said State Sen. Ann Millner (R-Ogden) who cosponsored HB265 which was made into law earlier this year.
Programs cut at each university will have three years to "teach out" so that students currently enrolled can complete their degrees.
"With HB265, Weber State is making tough decisions across the university, but it’s also a unique opportunity to look at the way we operate and to reimagine our future," the school said in a statement. "Considering what’s best for the state of Utah and what will keep Weber State and our community strong for decades to come."
Below are the program cuts announced by Weber State University:
MAJORS
- Applied Environmental Geosciences
- Applied Physics (BS)
- Art Education
- Computer Science Teaching
- Construction Management (BS) Facilities Management Emphasis
- Electronic Engineering Technology
- English (BA) Professional & Technical Writing Emphasis
- French for the Professions (BA)
- French Translation in Business & Industry
- Geography (BA)
- German (BA)
- German for the Professions (BA)
- Mathematics (combine with Applied Mathematics)
- MSRT (Respiratory Therapy Master’s Program)
- Physical Education (non teaching major)
- Physical Science (AAS)
- Workplace Communication & Writing (AA & AS)
CERTIFICATES
- Biotechnician
- Ethics
- Facilities Management
- Field Botany
- Forensic Science Fundamentals
- Jazz Studies
- Music Entrepreneurship
MINORS
- Ethnic Studies
- French for the Professions
- German for the Professions
- Linguistics
- Public Administration
- Queer Studies
- Spanish for the Professions
- Women & Gender Studies
In addition to the program cuts announced by Weber State, the school said the following majors and departments will be consolidated:
- Combine Dance and Theatre into one program instead of two separate programs
- Combine emphases in Bachelor of Music to create a Bachelor of Music Pedagogy and Performance
- Reduce Geography from seven tracks to four
- Consolidate six economics majors into four
- Create a combined Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Sociology
- Combined the Elementary Education & Special Education Programs
- Transition the Manufacturing Systems
- Engineering program (MSE) to Mechanical or Manufacturing program
- Reduce emphases in Communications
"As our economy changes, as we see the influence of technology and AI and data analytics, we’re re-aligning part of what we do to make sure we’re meeting high-demand job and career needs in the state of Utah," Millner said.
Finalized plans are expected from all universities in the next month.
