FAIRBANKS -- While more than 90 percent of its programs will remain intact, the University of Alaska Fairbanks will eliminate or suspend numerous low-enrollment academic programs to cut expenses, according to a memo sent to university staff Wednesday by UAF Provost Susan Henrichs.
In the memo, Henrichs said only about 2 percent of UAF students are enrolled in the targeted programs, which are to be named over the next week. The goal of the academic review was to find about $3 million in cuts from its 190 degree and certificate programs.
The students enrolled in the programs will be able to finish their studies, which means the faculty and staff with the programs won't have "immediate changes in their employment," the memo said. For the certificate, undergraduate or graduate programs that are to be suspended, the faculty may be asked to make changes to increase enrollment or decrease costs.
The goal was to find low-enrollment programs that have seen a sharp decline over the past five years. UAF officials have said the decisions are driven in part by state budget cuts, as about 40 percent of the UAF budget comes from state general funds, with the rest from research grants, tuition, fees and services.
"The review process included a report provided by the program, in which they explained the value of the program to the university, the community, and the state; institutional data on enrollments, graduates, student demographics, faculty numbers and other factors; review by a faculty committee and an administrator committee; and a final decision by the Chancellor's Cabinet based on the program report and committee recommendations," Henrichs said.
She said budget cuts have forced a variety of cutbacks, prompting detailed reviews that began last year. "I regret that it is necessary to reduce the number of programs that we offer, but the pending, substantial reductions in funding from the state will force cutbacks across campus. We're making every effort to preserve academic programs, since they are at the core of the university's mission to educate our students," she said.
Last fall, UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers said that the UA Board of Regents had "challenged the university's leadership to reduce the number of academic, research and support programs that we offer."
UAF has a total enrollment of about 10,000 students, and campuses in Fairbanks, Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue and Nome. It offers 158 degrees and 32 certificates in 123 disciplines, according to its catalog. It has been planning for budget cuts in the range of 5 percent to 8 percent of the general fund, according to the UAF budget office.