STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A decline in enrollment at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has school officials looking for ways to cut back, and that could include cutting classes and programs.
Greg Summers, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UW-SP, says we’re at the beginning stages of what will probably be a year of evaluation and no final decisions have been made, and the enrollment decline is, in part, caused by something that’s actually a positive.
Summers said, “In 2011, our four-year graduation rate was about 22% and it’s moved up to 35%, so we’re graduating students at as faster clip, but we’re not able to bring in the larger classes that would allow us to keep our overall enrollment steady.”
The Department of Geography and Geology has been identified as a possible cut, but Summers says concerned students or potential students shouldn’t panic.
“Re-organizing departments doesn’t mean that we’ll necessarily eliminate the majors. We can still offer a Geography major or a Geology major even if we don’t necessarily have the Geology and Geography department, and that’s the crucial distinction we’re trying to maintain at this point,” he said.
Students who are affected by any potential cuts in their programs will be held harmless and will still be able to earn their degrees at UW-SP.
The tuition freeze from the state has prevented any potential gains to make up for lost funds. Summers says the four Colleges within the University will be able make their own proposals and suggestions.
