Tri-Cities and Global campus leaders describe program changes and a plan to transfer carry-forward to central

Chancellors reported campus-level actions at the regents retreat that aim to improve enrollment efficiency and address near-term cash needs.

Tri-Cities: Chancellor Sandra described reorganization and program optimization at the Tri-Cities campus. She said Tri-Cities has been able to reduce low‑enrollment sections and better schedule general‑education offerings, increasing student credit-hour production while offering fewer low-demand sections. Tri‑Cities will discontinue a hospitality major (maintaining related course offerings in business) and integrate other low-enrolled majors; chancellor and faculty supported those changes.

Global campus: Chancellor Dave described Global's plan to transfer $5 million per year over five years back to central as part of an agreement to right-size retained earnings; given FY26 pressures, leadership is exploring making the transfer as a one-time payment this year. Global also reported enrollment and marketing changes after a staffing transition, and leaders are developing a pilot to launch new programs where growth and revenue flow back more directly to colleges.

Why it matters: Unit-level actions on scheduling, program consolidation and targeted transfers of non-core retained earnings were presented as tools to improve system cash and student outcomes without creating unplanned layoffs. Leaders emphasized that carry-forward transfers are university monies and would not create new unrestricted spending capacity beyond the liquidity they provide.

Ending note: Regents were told these campus actions will be coordinated with central budget hearings in April and that campus leaders will provide reconciled balances and program change proposals in that process.