DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake University announced Friday it would be cutting a number of academic programs after a November 2023 review.
The college notified nine faculty members on Friday that their specific program was recommended to be discontinued, totaling 13 majors, minors and certificates.
All of the cuts come with teach out plans, meaning the students currently enrolled in those majors will be able to finish out their degree — but there is still confusion surrounding the plan.
Students and faculty are concerned about the changes and working to understand the process.
"Still a lot of fears and worries and stuff, but I think it's just kind of important to get the general idea," student Morgen Neuhauser said.
In February, the university announced it would be reviewing to their academic programs. Student journalists at Drake University have been following these budget cuts from the beginning and said the quick timeline is a big concern amongst faculty.
"A faculty member asking Faculty Senate, like can we get more time, because just the sense that the program review process just took place too quickly," student Andrew Kennard told Local 5.
Students also stressed the fear of the unknown and big changes ahead.
"It's definitely scary to hear your university is $10 million in debt, and it's definitely scary to hear that a lot of changes will be coming, faculty will be leaving, programs might be gone," Neuhauser said.
As students wait for the final decision and learn more about the process, they say it is a confusing time on campus.
"Until students get a better idea of what is going to happen, if their major is cut," Kennard said. "They might still have some anxiety about what they're gonna be facing."
Faculty are also navigating the proposal. Dr. Carol Spaulding-Kruse, a Professor of English at Drake University, said "most of the faculty I’ve talked with are alarmed, troubled, and, frankly, tired. It’s not a good climate for higher education, with this crisis, coming right after we’ve just recovered from COVID-19".
Spaulding-Kruse also added that the timing of the cuts was an added pressure.
"Faculty had only a few weeks to conduct program review and report their data to the administration," Spaulding-Kruse said. "Also, faculty who wished to take a retirement incentive package had only a few weeks to decide — a full month before decisions about terminations were issued."
The proposed program cuts include:
Undergraduate Majors:
Anthropology/Sociology
Astronomy
Physics
Religion
Rhetoric
Health Care Administration
Undergraduate Minors:
Anthropology
Religion
Rhetoric
East Asian Studies
Graduate Majors:
Master of Accountancy
Master of Public Administration
Graduate Certificate
Evidence-based Health Care
Spaulding-Kruse believes the proposed cuts more significantly impact students and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, claiming the cuts show a clear favor toward professional programs rather than liberal arts curriculum.
"We were told a number of metrics would factor into the decisions," Spaulding-Kruse said. "But the letters recommending dismissal mentioned only [the] number of majors in programs as the reason for recommending termination."
The Drake Faculty Senate will vote on these recommendations on April 17. Then, President Marty Martin and the Board of Trustees will make a final decision, reporting that on April 29.