Officials consider cutting language, ag programs
Academic programs with small numbers of students enrolled — including German, French and two agriculture programs — may be cut due to Nevada’s budget shortfall, university officials said Monday.
Provost Marc Johnson asked the deans of each college to review their small majors and academic centers last month as the university continues to make cuts in its 2009-10 budget.
The University of Nevada, Reno stands to lose about $62 million for the 2009-11 biennium because of budgets cuts demanded by Gov. Jim Gibbons. Nevada is experiencing a budget shortfall because of low gambling and tourism revenue in the general state fund.
While there have been rumors that the German program has been cut, Johnson said no official decisions have been made.
Johnson said he wants to leave the decisions about cutting individual programs in the hands of department chairs and college deans. The cuts will continue throughout the school year.
UNR alum Chris Bayer said he heard from friends and alumni that the German program may be cut.
“I’m very disappointed and it troubles me that the university would be considering cutting this program,” said Bayer, who graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in German and international affairs. “I know that it has done wonders for me and many of my former colleagues.”
While some programs may be cut, Johnson said it’s necessary to keep core programs and classes intact.
“It’s all budget-related,” he said. “Really tiny majors may be cut, but larger programs will stay on campus. We’re not doing it because we think some programs have less quality than others.”
Johnson said he would not name the agriculture programs up for review.
Nick Coltrain contributed to this story. Jessica Estepa can be reached at jestepa@nevadasagebrush.com.
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on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 12:40 am and is filed under Academics, Administration, Budget Crisis, News, Student Life.
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