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Regents committee advances new degree proposals and signals more program reviews under workforce alignment
Summary
Regents' academic committee heard proposals for multiple new programs across the three regent universities — including online options and special‑education BAs — and received updates on program‑review work that may lead to consolidations or closures for low‑enrollment majors.
The Academic Affairs Committee on Feb. 25 advanced a slate of new academic proposals and outlined next steps on a systemwide program‑review effort tied to workforce alignment.
University of Northern Iowa presented two proposals: an asynchronous, fully online option for the existing Master of Arts in Geography intended to broaden access for working professionals and estimated to add 10–15 students in year one, and a new Bachelor of Arts in Special and Inclusive Education (120 credits) designed to prepare teachers for K‑12 inclusive settings. The University of Iowa and Iowa State presented complementary proposals: UI proposed a BA in Special Education (anticipated 48 students by year five, start fall 2026) while ISU proposed a BA in Animal Enterprise & Innovation, an online BA completer in Psychology, an online MS in Nursing, and an accelerated BSN partnership with Mary Greeley Medical Center. Presenters emphasized modest startup costs, projected steady‑state enrollments, and alignment with documented workforce needs.
Committee members questioned details about licensure, placement and faculty lines; presenters said most programs are expected to be revenue‑neutral or net positive after initial years and that some would require one or two additional faculty lines when at scale. The committee recommended the program items be forwarded for board approval.
Separately, provosts updated the committee on a workforce‑alignment review begun after the board's November report: universities have circulated departmental forms, some faculty have already recommended closures or consolidations, and institutional governance steps will precede any final board requests. University of Iowa leaders said they plan to propose closures of several undergraduate and one graduate major that fall below the board’s enrollment thresholds (undergraduate threshold cited as 25, graduate as 10) while preserving related coursework and minors where appropriate.
Why it matters: the proposals expand online access and aim to address teacher and health‑care workforce shortages; the program‑review process signals potential structural changes across regent institutions that could affect departments, faculty jobs and curricular offerings.
