Syracuse University will pause or discontinue 93 academic programs following the results of a campus-wide academic portfolio review, school officials announced Wednesday.
In an email to the university community, Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew said the move is part of an effort to streamline offerings and better align programs with student demand.
Of the programs affected, 55 currently have no students enrolled, while 28 are advanced certificate programs designed to complement graduate degrees. Agnew noted the university offered about 460 programs at the time of the review—more than double the roughly 200 programs typically offered at peer institutions.
University officials said 258 students, or about 1.2% of the student population, are currently enrolled in programs that will be paused or closed. Those students will be able to complete their degrees through teach-out plans and curriculum adjustments.
Agnew said no job eliminations have been identified at this time. Deans across Syracuse University’s 13 schools and colleges will work with faculty to manage program transitions and develop updated or “reenvisioned” offerings.
The portfolio review process was first announced in August, when university leaders tasked deans with evaluating their academic programs throughout the fall semester.
According to Agnew, the review found that 34% of Syracuse University’s programs account for 80% of total student enrollment, while the remaining 66% serve just 20% of students.
