Dozens of degree programs at Arkansas’ public universities are under review for possible elimination after the Arkansas Division of Higher Education released its annual viability reports.
The reports identify programs that did not meet the state’s minimum graduation requirements. Programs listed in the review face the possibility of being discontinued, although the reports identify potential eliminations rather than final decisions.
Annual review examines program viability
The review applies to academic programs at Arkansas public universities and is based on graduation numbers. The Division of Higher Education uses the annual reports to identify programs that have not reached the state’s required level of graduates.
The process places individual degree programs before university officials for review. A listing in the viability reports does not itself establish that a program has been eliminated. It identifies programs that have fallen short of the state standard and may be considered for removal.
- Dozens of programs were identified in the annual reports.
- The programs are at Arkansas public universities.
- The programs did not meet minimum graduation requirements.
Possible effect on public universities
Academic programs are among the offerings maintained by Arkansas’ public universities for students pursuing degrees and other credentials. The state review focuses on whether programs are producing enough graduates to satisfy the minimum requirement.
The potential eliminations are part of a statewide review of higher education offerings rather than a decision involving a single campus. The Division of Higher Education released the findings for the current annual review, placing the identified programs in a process that could lead to changes in the academic programs offered by public institutions.
University programs included in the review remain subject to the state’s viability process. The reported findings identify which programs failed to meet the graduation threshold and could be eliminated as the review proceeds.
