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The deadline for Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences deans to submit final reports for the university’s portfolio review process has been extended to Friday, Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew told the University Senate Wednesday.

SU began its portfolio review, which Agnew has stated is a typical practice among higher education institutions, to assess its academic offerings. She also said SU offers far more programs than similar peer institutions.

Agnew said she will issue a full report to the senate’s Academic Affairs Committee after reviewing the deans’ findings and recommendations, followed by a summary report to the full senate outlining “next steps related to implementation.”

The provost did not provide an explicit reason for the deadline extension.

Last August, Agnew instructed each dean to begin an academic portfolio review of their school or college. In her original message launching the review, she planned to “report out on next steps” during the January 2026 USen meeting.

Deans were given “detailed data” – including enrollment trends and course information – to examine their programs, degrees and majors.

The review resulted in paused admissions for 18 majors within the College of Arts and Sciences, a decision allegedly made with no faculty input. Two programs — Bachelor of Science in Earth Science and Bachelor of Arts and B.S. in Ethics — were cut.

At November’s meeting, Agnew told senators she expected to receive portfolio review recommendations from deans at the end of the year. She said she would look over the reports and share them with the senate’s Academic Affairs Committee after Jan. 1, then the campus community.

Agnew did not give a timeline for the rest of the portfolio review process.

The senate’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11 for its annual Q&A open forum.

Published on January 21, 2026 at 10:01 pm