‘I think this is a full-out five-alarm fire as to the state of higher education in Nebraska,’ says Regent Elizabeth O’Connor
LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to eliminate four academic programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, three of them unanimously.
The eight-member board approved eliminating the departments of statistics, earth and atmospheric sciences, educational administration and textiles, merchandising and fashion design. Together, the cuts total $6.74 million; 51.5 positions will be cut, most of them faculty.
Eliminated programs
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ($1.85 million, 13 positions eliminated).
- Statistics ($1.75 million, 12 positions eliminated).
- Educational Administration ($1.69 million, 15.5 positions eliminated).
- Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design ($1.45 million, 11 positions eliminated).
There are 541 current students in the four cut departments, according to board materials.
The eliminated programs will be phased out over the next couple of years, with some additional department funds retained to support any remaining students who stay after the cuts. NU has a policy to help students who choose to stay after their programs are eliminated…