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THE DAILY ORANGE

To ‘sunset’

SU’s portfolio review comes as universities cut programs nationwide

By Brenne SheehanSenior Staff Writer

L

ast week, Syracuse University joined several colleges and universities across the United States in announcing the “closure” and pausing of almost 100 programs.

SU Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew announced in an April 1 campus-wide email that the university would be “sunsetting” 93 majors and programs, including undergraduate, graduate and certificate degrees — meaning new students cannot declare these majors in the fall.

This number, however, lacked important context.

The university provided The Daily Orange with a list of the programs and award types separated into four categories — closing, paused to closing, paused and “pausing” — on April 1. The following day, the university’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness published a report with “notes” on several closures, providing additional context.

The report revealed that most of the programs included in the 93 were dormant, renamed or transitioned years before the portfolio review was conducted. During the review, SU worked to clean up its inventory of registered programs in the New York State Education Department, which still lists several programs that SU hasn’t offered in years.

Of the programs listed in the portfolio review’s results, only 26 active programs are closing. The remaining programs were either closed, consolidated into new programs or renamed years ago.

Read more: Previously closed majors included in portfolio review results cause ‘chaos’

To ‘sunset,’ in context

Several SU programs are changing — whether it be by closing, consolidating or pausing, after “sunsetting” in the university’s portfolio review. But almost half of the sunsetted were closed, consolidated or renamed before the portfolio review was conducted.

49
programs are changing
Programs that were active before being sunsetted by the portfolio review, including some with zero enrollment that SU did not mark as dormant or inactive.
44
programs have already changed
Programs listed in the review’s results that had already stopped admitting students, been consolidated into other degrees, or changed their name before the review began.

Programs currently or recently offered closing or pausing · 49 programs  ▼
Program Degree Level School Status Context provided by SU
Arts and Sciences
Classical civilization B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Classical Civilization topics still available.
Classics (Greek and Latin) B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Classics topics still available.
Digital humanities * B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed —
Earth sciences
Teach-out		 B.S. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed The geology B.S. replaced the earth sciences B.S. Students currently enrolled are completing the degree through a teach-out.
Ethics
Teach-out		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed The “teach-out” for the Ethics B.A. began in 2025.
Ethics
Teach-out		 B.S. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed The “teach-out” for the Ethics B.S. began in 2025.
Fine arts B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed The fine arts B.A. was offered at Arts and Sciences. A B.F.A. and M.F.A. in studio art will continue to be offered at the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
French and Francophone studies
Consolidating into new major		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed SU’s French program will consolidate with other language and foreign culture majors to form the world languages and cultures B.A.
German language, literature and culture
Consolidating into new major		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed SU’s German program will consolidate with other language and foreign culture majors to form the world languages and cultures B.A.
History of architecture
Consolidating into new major		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed The history of architecture program will consolidate with the history of art program to become a renamed history of art and architecture program.
Italian language, literature and culture
Consolidating into new major		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed SU’s Italian program will consolidate with other language and foreign culture majors to form the world languages and cultures B.A.
Latino-Latin American studies B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Latino-Latin American topics still available.
Middle Eastern studies B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Middle Eastern topics still available.
Modern Jewish studies * B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Modern Jewish topics still available.
Russian language, literature and culture B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Courses in Russian topics still available.
Statistics
Consolidating into new major		 B.A. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Statistics will now be a new track under SU’s applied mathematics major.
Statistics
Consolidating into new major		 B.S. Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Closed Statistics will now be a new track under SU’s applied mathematics major.
School of Education
Arts education: preparation M.S. Graduate School of Education Pausing This program is “pausing” because it is “in review for further direction,” per SU’s website.
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Nutrition science
Restructured		 B.S. Undergraduate Falk College of Sport Closed While Nutrition Science’s B.S. is closing, a Nutrition B.S. is still available to students. SU is developing new tracks, such as applied nutrition and human health and performance.
Nutrition science
Restructured		 M.S. Graduate Falk College of Sport Closed While Nutrition Science’s M.S. is closing, a Nutrition Science M.A. is still offered to students. SU is developing new tracks, such as applied nutrition and human health and performance.
School of Information Studies
Information systems (online) M.S. Graduate School of Information Studies Closed This program is closed due to “online program restructuring,” per SU.
Information technology management *
Restructured		 Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program is closing as an advanced certificate, but will continue as an extension of the school’s M.S. program, SU states.
Information technology management (online) *
Restructured		 Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program is closing as an advanced certificate, but will continue as an extension of the school’s M.S. program, SU states.
Cloud management * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program was paused before, and is now closing. SU states it is “in review for further direction.”
Data science Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program was paused before, and is now closing. SU states it is “in review for further direction.”
Data science (online) Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program was paused before, and is now closing. SU states it is “in review for further direction.”
Information security management * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program was paused before, and is now closing. SU states it is “in review for further direction.”
Information security management (online) * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Information Studies Closed This program was paused before, and is now closing. SU states it is “in review for further direction.”
Innovation, society and technology B.S. Undergraduate School of Information Studies Closed SU says IST is “under review for further direction.” The report says IST has “substantial overlap” with the B.S. in information management and technology.
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Civil society organizations * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
European Union and contemporary Europe * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
Health services administration and policy Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
Latin American/Caribbean studies * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
Leadership in international and non-governmental organizations * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
Middle Eastern affairs * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
Public management and policy * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
South Asian studies * Adv. Cert. Certificate Maxwell School Closed SU lists the note for this program’s closure as “operational and demand alignment.”
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Music composition
Absorbed into new degree		 M.M. Graduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed SU stated it is “reimagining the B.S. Music degree to include flexible pathways” for both its undergraduate Mus.B. and this graduate program.
Music composition
Absorbed into new degree		 Mus.B. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This major will close, but SU is “reimagining” the B.S. in music degree to include “flexible pathways.”
Performance
Absorbed into new degree		 Mus.B. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This major will close, but SU is “reimagining” the B.S. in music degree to include “flexible pathways.”
Sound recording technology
Absorbed into new degree		 Mus.B. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This major will close, but SU is “reimagining” the B.S. in music degree to include “flexible pathways.”
Piano *
Absorbed into new degree		 Mus.B. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed SU states that the piano Mus.B. will become a concentration within the performance B.Mus.
Voice pedagogy M.M. Graduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed —
College of Professional Studies
Applied data and predictive analytics * B.P.S. Certificate College of Professional Studies Paused This program is “in review for further direction,” according to SU.
eSports gaming * Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed —
Full stack development * Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Paused This program is “in review for further direction,” according to SU.
Healthcare administration * Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed —
Knowledge management (online) * B.P.S. Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed —
Knowledge management (online) * Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed —

Programs closed, consolidated or renamed before the portfolio review · 44 programs  ▼
Program Degree Level School Status Context provided by SU
Arts and Sciences
Child therapy * Adv. Cert. Certificate Arts and Sciences Closed No student enrollment.
Child therapy (online) * Adv. Cert. Certificate Arts and Sciences Closed No student enrollment.
Trauma-informed practice * Adv. Cert. Certificate Arts and Sciences Closed No student enrollment.
Trauma-informed practice (online) * Adv. Cert. Certificate Arts and Sciences Closed No student enrollment.
School of Education
Educational leadership M.S. Graduate School of Education Closed Closed prior to academic portfolio review.
Educational leadership–companion * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed Closed prior to academic portfolio review.
Inclusive elementary and special education teacher preparation
Name change		 B.S. Undergraduate School of Education Closed This program underwent a name change. It is now called the Inclusive Childhood Education B.S.
Principal preparation program pilot * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed Dormant program listing; inactive program record maintenance.
School counseling * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
School district business leader * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
School district business leader (N-Cert) * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
School district leader internship * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
Teaching and curriculum * Adv. Cert. Certificate School of Education Closed Dormant program listing; inactive program record maintenance.
Engineering and Computer Science
Computer engineering * CE Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science Closed Dormant program listing; a Computer Engineering B.S. degree is still offered.
Electrical engineering * EE Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science Closed Dormant program listing; an Electrical Engineering B.S. degree is still offered.
Computational journalism * M.S. Graduate ECS / Newhouse Closed No student enrollment.
Computational science * M.S. Graduate Engineering and Computer Science Closed No student enrollment.
Systems and information science * B.S. Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science Closed No student enrollment.
Systems and information science * M.S. Graduate Engineering and Computer Science Closed No student enrollment.
Systems assurance * Adv. Cert. Certificate Engineering and Computer Science Closed No student enrollment.
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Applied human development and family science * M.A. Graduate Falk College of Sport Closed This program was closed prior to the academic portfolio review and before the department moved to the College of Arts and Sciences.
Sport venue and event management M.S. Graduate Falk College of Sport Closed This program stopped admitting students prior to academic portfolio review.
College of Law
Law S.J.D. Graduate College of Law Closed This program is closed, but doctoral law programs like the J.D. and LL.M. are still available.
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Citizenship and civic engagement B.A. Undergraduate Maxwell School Closed This major was closed in 2025. SU now has an Office of Civic and Community Engagement at Maxwell and offers a related minor.
Social science Ph.D. Graduate Maxwell School Closed This program closed prior to the academic portfolio review.
Whitman School of Management
General studies in management * B.S. Undergraduate Whitman School of Management Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
Newhouse School of Public Communications
Advertising *
Replaced by M.S.		 M.A. Graduate Newhouse School Closed The Newhouse School replaced the M.A. in advertising with an M.S. in advertising during the 2024 school year.
New media * M.S. Graduate Newhouse School Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
Photography *
Replaced by M.S.		 M.A. Graduate Newhouse School Closed This program is listed as closed because Newhouse’s current M.S. in multimedia, photography and design replaced the photography M.A.
Television, radio and film *
Replaced by M.S.		 M.A. Graduate Newhouse School Closed This program is listed as closed because Newhouse’s current M.S. in television, radio and film replaced the TRF M.A.
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Art video * B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program closed before SU’s portfolio review.
Art video * M.F.A. Graduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program closed before SU’s portfolio review.
Ceramics *
Consolidation already occurred		 B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will continue as a concentration within a new B.F.A. studio arts degree, separate from the currently existing studio arts B.S.
Fiber and textile arts * B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program closed before SU’s portfolio review.
History of art * B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program closed before SU’s portfolio review. SU now offers a B.A. in history of art, and will offer a consolidated history of art and architecture B.A.
Jewelry and metalsmithing *
Consolidation already occurred		 B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will continue as a concentration within a new B.F.A. studio arts degree.
Jewelry and metalsmithing *
Consolidation already occurred		 M.F.A. Graduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will become consolidated as a concentration within the Studio Arts M.F.A.
Painting *
Consolidation already occurred		 B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will continue as a concentration within a new B.F.A. studio arts degree.
Printmaking *
Consolidation already occurred		 B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will continue as a concentration within a new B.F.A. studio arts degree.
Sculpture *
Consolidation already occurred		 B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program will continue as a concentration within a new B.F.A. studio arts degree.
Special studies in art * B.F.A. Undergraduate Visual and Performing Arts Closed This program closed before SU’s portfolio review.
College of Professional Studies
Creative leadership
Already replaced		 Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed Based on “market feedback,” SU replaced this program with its organization development and leadership certificate.
Legal studies * B.P.S. Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.
Mobile application development Certificate Certificate College of Professional Studies Closed This program is formally closed due to “inactive program record maintenance,” per SU’s website.

Source: Syracuse University   |   * 0 students enrolled   |   Graphic by Brenne Sheehan

Though, SU wasn’t alone in its decision to reevaluate its majors and programs.

Several colleges and universities, including major institutions like West Virginia University, the University of North Carolina and Indiana University Bloomington, have effectively paused, closed and consolidated a number of their majors — particularly in the humanities.

Read more: ‘Deeper losses’: A&S faculty, students react as SU sunsets 9 majors

Read more: Setnor students, faculty ponder music school future after VPA portfolio review

Read more: Overlap, low demand led Syracuse University to close iSchool’s IST major

In 2023, WVU cut several of its liberal arts programs to balance its $45 million budgetary deficit. Citing declining enrollment and high operational costs, the school cut 28 of its programs and fired 140 faculty members, Axios reported.

Last summer, just a few months before Agnew announced SU’s academic portfolio review, the IU system moved to close or consolidate 400 of its programs statewide, per the direction of its Republican state legislators.

Jefferey Selingo, a higher education author and former editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education, said colleges and universities are restructuring their academic programs at an accelerated rate — something he said they should be doing every year.

As colleges face declining enrollment — particularly from international students — federal funding challenges and a broader trend questioning the value of higher education, it’s essential for institutions to consider how to best fiscally maintain their academic programs, Selingo said.

“It’s much like your closet, right where you just keep buying things, and you never really go through them to decide what to keep and what not to keep,” Selingo said. “That’s what’s finally happening now.”

The University of Chicago, a private institution like SU, also scaled back several of its Ph.D. and master’s programs in the humanities, alongside other major institutions like Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Experts and some SU leaders alike said the academic portfolio review is “necessary” for SU’s longevity.

Robert Kelchen, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said colleges and universities are facing unprecedented financial challenges that have sparked this national movement.

“For decades, universities have tried to grow their way out of financial and enrollment challenges, and the landscape has changed where that’s much more difficult to do,” Kelchen said. “Now, more universities are looking at cuts to balance their budget.”

In her April 1 email announcing the portfolio review, Agnew reaffirmed that the academic portfolio review is “not a cost-cutting exercise.” As of now, no positions have been “identified for closure,” and all students in each program will finish their degree, she wrote.

Selingo said SU’s transparency and public relations during the portfolio review process are notable, whereas many universities plan to cut and consolidate programs in a “very quiet way.”

“What ends up happening is that some colleges and universities do this in a very public way, or they do it in a very quiet way because they don’t want people to think, ‘Oh, we’re closing programs because we’re in trouble,’” Selingo said. “They’re really just closing programs because enrollment is low in those programs, and they probably should have closed them years ago.”

Kelly Chandler-Olcott, dean of SU’s School of Education, said the campus-wide academic portfolio review comes years after the home college started its own reassessment of programs. The School of Education designed several of its novel inclusive adolescence and childhood teacher education programs in 2024, and designed a new consolidated Ph.D. in education in 2023.

“Part of our redesign and then our strategic plan involved being really intentional about examining our portfolio, long before the central administration talked about that,” Chandler-Olcott said. “We’re glad everyone else is catching up.”

Read more: Portfolio review closed many ‘zombie’ SU certificate programs, faculty say

The portfolio review and other institutions’ reassessments “may” be a sign of institutional struggle, Kelchen said. But, echoing Selingo, Kelchen affirms that a reassessment of programs should be an annual practice and likely will be in the coming years.

Closing programs likely won’t generate revenue for several years during the phase-out process, Kelchen added — so, if an institution is in immediate distress, programmatic closures won’t help.

“It could be a sign of struggling, but it can also be a good strategic decision if you’re spending money that’s getting a relatively low return,” Kelchen said. “You can reallocate that money to areas where you can get a higher return on your investment and serve more students.”