UPDATED 2:20 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – We’re learning more about what may be cut or reduced at Bradley University as part of an announced $13 million in cuts.
According to an e-mail to Bradley staff, later confirmed by a university news release, president Stephen Standifird says seventeen programs are being considered for discontinuation.
They range from Manufacturing Technology to Mathematics or Actuarial Science.
Another five programs could be discontinued as majors or concentrations, but would still offer classes.
“You don’t cut your way to success. So, we are taking a hard look at our costs and being sensitive to that,” said Standifird, in a prepared statement. “In addition to those costs, one of the things that we are spending some time to really think about is investments that we make towards the future for the university as well. For example, one of the big initiatives we recently mentioned was the Digitally Connected Campus Initiative. And we’ll continue to make those investments. Those investments, combined with the cost structures do, in fact, put us on a strong financial path moving forward.”
Standifird says in the e-mail 25 percent of the university’s programs account for 75 percent of student enrollment, and that’s “not viable.”
As many as 47 faculty positions are being eliminated with another 21 going away through attrition.
“One of the things we will do – we will continue to honor contracts that exist today,” said Standifird, in a university release. “And for those faculty who are involved in those programs that have opportunities to continue teach our existing students, those positions will be with us through that process, but unfortunately, yes, this will result in a reduction of positions at the university.”
PROGRAMS PROPOSED TO BE CUT
- Actuarial Science (Mathematics)*
- Apparel Production and Merchandising
- Business Law
- Ceramics
- Entrepreneurship**
- Family Consumer Science Education
- Family Life Science
- Hospitality Leadership
- International Studies
- Manufacturing Technology
- Math Education
- Pre-K – 12 Administration and Leadership
- Printmaking
- Professional Sales
- Public Health Education
- Religious Studies
- Statistics
MAJORS OR CONCENTRATIONS PROPOSED TO BE CUT, BUT FOR WHICH CLASSES WOULD REMAIN
- Economics
- French
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
*An Actuarial Science degree will continue to be offered by the finance and quantitative methods department in the Foster College of Business.
**Cocurricular entrepreneurship opportunities will continue to be available from the Bradley University Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
(Source: Bradley University)
“All programs on the above list will have 30 days to respond to the consideration for discontinuation. Final program decisions will be made by President Standifird by the end of the calendar year,” said a Bradley University news release.
