Syracuse University has announced plans to eliminate nine humanities-based majors as part of a cost-cutting initiative. The decision, revealed on Tuesday (March 25), follows a comprehensive academic portfolio review aimed at assessing the feasibility of programs with low enrollment. The affected majors include Classical Civilization, Digital Humanities, German, Russian, and Middle Eastern Studies, among others.
Current students enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees, but the university will no longer accept new students into these majors. Students will still have the option to minor in these subjects, and the departments housing these degrees will continue to operate. According to Syracuse.com, the decision was largely driven by low enrollment numbers, with many programs having fewer than 20 students in recent years.
Provost Lois Agnew emphasized the importance of directing resources to their highest and best use, stating, “Remaining fiscally stable will require a continued commitment to directing our resources to their highest and best use.” The university has faced several financial challenges, including a drop in international student enrollment and increased demand for financial aid. These factors, coupled with a broader demographic decline in college-age students, have strained the university’s budget…