SU to ‘sunset’ 93 programs following academic portfolio review
SU will “sunset” 93 programs after its academic portfolio review, Vice Chancellor Lois Agnew announced in a campus-wide email. Students enrolled in the programs can still complete their degrees, she wrote. Avery Magee | The Daily Orange
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Syracuse University will pause or close 93 of its programs as a result of its academic portfolio review, Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew announced in a Wednesday campus-wide email.
Out of the affected programs, 55 have zero students enrolled and 28 are “advanced certificate programs” — specialized curriculum programs that supplement a graduate degree. Agnew wrote that SU offered approximately 460 programs at the time of the review, a number she called “well above the peer average” of 200 programs at other large universities.
In total, 258 students — roughly 1.2% of SU students — are currently enrolled in the closed or paused programs, Agnew wrote. Every student enrolled in the paused or closed programs will have the opportunity to complete their degree, she confirmed in the email.
No positions have currently been identified to be eliminated, she wrote. Deans of SU’s schools and colleges will work directly with faculty on teach-out plans, curriculum transitions and developing “reenvisioned” programs that “better position Syracuse for the decade ahead.”
In August, Agnew announced SU would perform a portfolio review of its 13 schools and colleges, with deans reevaluating their respective programs, degrees and majors throughout the fall semester.
Deans were provided “detailed data,” including enrollment trends, course data and faculty information to inform their recommendations, Agnew wrote in her initial review announcement.
The decision to “sunset” each program came from several factors, Agnew wrote. Some programs affected have already stopped producing graduates and some were “genuinely difficult choices” about programs with “dedicated faculty” but low student enrollment.
Some programs will face “significant curricular redesign.” Others will combine with established majors to save resources, Agnew wrote.
Agnew wrote in the email that 34% of SU’s programs account for 80% of total student enrollment, while the remaining 66% of programs serve just 20% of students.
Agnew emphasized the results of the review were “not a cost-cutting exercise” or aimed at “eliminating departments or people.” She added that every dean worked closely with faculty, department chairs and program leaders to review their programs against “student demand, academic quality and mission alignment.”
Students, faculty and staff of each home college will receive specific information about how the review affects their school, Agnew wrote. Curriculum changes that require authorization from the New York State Education Department or the University Senate are also underway, she added.
Agnew wrote that those with questions about the results of the portfolio review should contact the deans of their respective schools.
“This review is an important step in developing a portfolio that is more focused, more distinctive and more aligned with student demand,” Agnew wrote. “The outcomes position us to strengthen the University’s ability to attract talented students, support exceptional faculty and fulfill our mission as a leading research university.”
This article will be updated with additional reporting.
