Albany State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, has faced significant drops in enrollment in recent years which have produced significant pressures on the university’s financial health. Now the university has announced that it will “deactivate” several academic programs. According to a university statement, “deactivate” means that programs are temporarily suspended from admitting new students for up to two years. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees.
Abiodun Ojemakinde, provost at Albany State University, stated “this is about ASU becoming stronger. Instead of spreading ourselves too thin, we will be able to better serve our students. This is not about diminishing the status of the university. All of our programs are steeped in excellence; this is about better allocation of resources and ensuring maintenance of quality programs.”
The undergraduate programs that are being deactivated have had fewer than 10 graduates on average per year and graduate programs that have had fewer than five graduates per year, on average. Undergraduate programs that are being deactivated include English, speech and theatre, art, music, history, technology management, music education, and science education. Graduate program affected are master of education degrees in English and science.
The university stated that courses will still be offered in many of these subjects but no new students will be permitted to major in these disciplines.
