The University of Connecticut has permanently closed seven academic programs and placed dozens more under monitoring following a comprehensive review of low-enrollment offerings, according to meeting minutes released by the university’s Board of Trustees.
The closures, approved during the board’s Aug. 5 meeting, affect four graduate certificate programs and three degree programs in mathematics and medieval studies. An additional 70 programs across multiple colleges will be monitored annually, with plans to improve enrollment and completion rates.
The review examined programs with completion rates below specific thresholds between the 2018-19 and 2022-23 academic years: 100 or fewer undergraduate degree completers, 50 or fewer master’s degree completers, 25 or fewer graduate certificate completers and 10 or fewer doctoral degree completers.
“The goal of this process is to identify programs that may no longer align with student interest or workforce needs,” wrote Anne D’Alleva, UConn’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, in a memo to trustees.
The permanently closed programs include graduate certificates in global health, obesity prevention and weight management, school law and addiction sciences. Also eliminated were bachelor’s and master’s programs in applied mathematical sciences, mathematics-physics, politics and popular culture, and medieval studies.
The mathematics department consolidated three undergraduate majors into a single program with tracks in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and mathematics teaching.
D’Alleva called the consolidation “a strong example of preserving robust academic options while eliminating unnecessary duplication.”
More than 100 programs that initially fell below enrollment thresholds were allowed to continue without changes after the review showed they were offered concurrently with other programs, or had enrollment limitations due to accreditation requirements.
The programs under monitoring span all of UConn’s colleges and schools, including dozens of bachelor’s degrees in languages, environmental studies and education specialties. The list also includes graduate certificates and master’s programs in fields ranging from regenerative engineering to genetic counseling.
Faculty, department heads and deans evaluated each flagged program considering student demand, enrollment trends, financial sustainability and market relevance before making recommendations.
The Provost’s Office will assess progress annually beginning in the upcoming academic year. The office plans to provide regular updates to the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee as the review process continues.
UConn launched the formal review process in fall 2024.
