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Regents approve series of program consolidations, new degrees and program deletions across University of Nebraska campuses
Summary
The Board of Regents approved multiple academic program actions including program continuations, consolidations, deletions and a new robotics degree; votes were handled largely on the consent or administrative agenda.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a package of academic program changes across system campuses, including program continuations, several degree deletions at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), consolidation of modern languages, and creation of a new bachelor of science degree in robotics engineering at the University of Nebraska'Lincoln (UNL).
President Gold walked the board through the academic items, noting that program reviews relied on productivity thresholds set by the Coordinating Commission for Public Higher Education and Nebraska statute when low enrollments were found. "Except when noted, the board recommends to the CCPE that the degree programs included in the report all be continued," Gold said as he introduced the packet.
Key approvals and administrative votes included: - Continuation report forwarded to the Coordinating Commission (Item 11A1). - Continuation of the Ph.D. in philosophy at UNL with an action plan to reduce attrition and time to degree (11A2). - Deletions at UNK in the Department of Physics and Astronomy: Bachelor of Science in astrophysics (11A4), the bachelor's in physical science (11A5), bachelor's in astronomy (11A6), and bachelor of science in physics (engineering emphasis) (11A7) as part of consolidation efforts. - Deletion of the Bachelor of Science in Spanish translation and interpretation at UNK, with current students moved to a BA in modern languages with the interpretation emphasis (11A8). - Merger of English and English writing majors into a single BA in English at UNK (11A9). - Establishment of a 128-credit Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineering at UNL (11A10). Chancellor and academic leaders said the degree aligns with workforce demand and ABET accreditation norms. - Consolidation of French and German majors into a single Modern Languages major (11A11). - Establishment of a Multidisciplinary Studies BA/BS at UNL to aid degree completion for students with 60+ credit hours; the item prompted extended debate with UNO leadership concerned about market confusion (11A12). - Creation of the Diabetes Center of Excellence at UNMC (11A13) and elimination of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at UNMC (11A14) after work was commercialized.
Most items were recommended by the Academic Affairs Committee and approved by roll-call votes during the meeting. Several items were described as responses to low enrollments and strategic alignment across campuses; in multiple cases current students will be accommodated to complete degrees.
Votes at a glance (select items): - 11A1: Program continuation report — approved. - 11A2: Continue Ph.D. in philosophy at UNL (with action plan) — approved. - 11A4'A7: Deletions of physics-related degrees at UNK — approved. - 11A8: Delete BS in Spanish translation/interpretation (UNK) — approved. - 11A9: Merge English and English writing majors (UNK) — approved. - 11A10: Establish BS in Robotics Engineering (UNL) — approved. - 11A11: Establish Modern Languages BA/BS (UNL) — approved. - 11A12: Establish Multidisciplinary Studies BA/BS (UNL) — approved after discussion. - 11A13: Establish Diabetes Center of Excellence (UNMC) — approved. - 11A14: Eliminate Center for Advanced Surgical Technology (UNMC) — approved.
Board members framed most of the academic changes as part of the system'wide strategic alignment launched under the system strategic plan, balancing program demand against resources. Several regents and chancellors emphasized student transition plans so existing students are not left disadvantaged by program deletions or consolidations.
The board instructed administration to report required program continuations and any in-depth reviews to the Coordinating Commission for Public Higher Education where statute requires further review.
