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MSU Billings considering cut 37 academic programs

Posted at 8:14 PM, Apr 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-17 14:49:33-04

BILLINGS- Officials at Montana State University Billings said Thursday they are considering phasing out 37 academic programs.

These are programs that include little to no enrollment, according to Shannon Wilcox, university relations director.

The plan is to better align the university’s “173 programs with student needs and market demands,” Wilcox said in a text message.

The Strategic Program Alignment (SPA) Committee put out the recommendations.

The list shows 14 programs with zero students.

Programs with no students include Associate of Applied Science degrees for Medical Administrative Assistant and Power Plant Technology along with programs for Minors in Physical Education and Economics Education.

Others in the planned phase-out include BS, Pre-Professional Engineering with 17 students, BS, Biological Environmental Science with  eight Minor, Earth Science Education with seven..

The faculty helped determine which programs to cut, she said.

There are no plans to eliminate faculty in this process.

This is the first of three phases and the final phase will add programs that are needed.

Wilcox said this process is happening at universities across the country.

At the end of April, the committee will go to phase 2 and consider another list categorized as integrate/invigorate, for growing programs.

Phase 3 will add programs based on strategic priorities and the highest demand.

Click here for a full list of programs considered for elimination.