YSU considers new cost-cutting measures

Courses, majors being considered for elimination, consolidation

By CHRIS McBRIDE

Staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University has identified 179 courses that are recommended to be consolidated, rotated or not offered in the future, according to a state-required report that examines low-enrolled courses and academic programs.

On Thursday, the university's board of trustees, by resolution, endorsed the recommendations in the report and when the board meets again in December, it's likely to determine what courses and programs will be eliminated or reduced.

The review done this year shows that 495 courses of 2,130 were determined to meet YSU's definition of low-enrolled and of those 337 met the chancellor's definition of low-enrolled, according to a summary of the study.

There were 179 that could be consolidated, rotated or not offered in the future with 158 having no action taken, the report states.

No formal decisions have been made.

YSU, however, is not ending immediately any major or program. If it happens that a program is deemed no longer viable, the university would stop accepting students into that program, but would ensure any student already in the program would be able to finish, said Ron Cole, YSU spokesman.

"The resolution is also part of our continued efforts here at YSU to optimize our academic program portfolio and to assure academic efficiency and effectiveness across campus," said board President John Jakubek. "The purpose of the review is to ensure that the courses, programs and majors that we are offering are viable, effective and relevant to careers and community need."

Provost Brien Smith said the review examined two categories for determining what is considered low-enrolled classes -- for undergraduates if there are fewer than 18 students and for graduates, if the class has fewer than 11 students.

Low-enrolled majors will be judged by whether they service 50 or fewer majors for undergraduates and 20 for graduates.

Actions the university can take, Smith said, could include suspending admission, retiring or merging programs.

Voting against the resolution was Trustee Sergul S. Erzumrum, who was present via webcast. She said she was hesitant to vote affirmatively not knowing which programs stand to be eliminated.

According to an analysis of the review, it is recommended that three undergraduate programs and two graduate programs should be eliminated.

Fifteen other undergraduate programs and eight graduate programs should be considered for suspended admission or sunset, the report states. Another eight undergraduate and five graduate programs should be restructured or have the curriculum redesigned and 11 undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs should remain as they are, the report states.