August 07, 2025
The University of Utah is set to discontinue 81 academic programs and minors, a decision that university officials attribute to recent state legislation aimed at promoting “strategic reinvestment” following significant budget cuts to public higher education institutions.
This spring, the Utah Legislature, which is predominantly Republican, enacted House Bill 265. This legislation resulted in a 10% reduction in state funding for instructional budgets at public colleges and universities. However, it also provided a pathway for these institutions to recover lost funds by eliminating certain programs and positions, thereby allowing for a focus on “strategic reinvestment.” The criteria for these reinvestment plans include factors such as enrollment numbers, graduation rates, job placement statistics, wage outcomes, program costs, and the demands of both local and statewide labor markets.
While other universities in Utah have already outlined their intended program cuts, this announcement marks the first detailed response from the state’s flagship university regarding the implications of the new law.
The proposed eliminations at the University of Utah encompass a range of advanced degrees, including Ph.D. programs in chemical physics, physiology, experimental pathology, and theater. Additionally, master’s programs in ballet, modern dance, marketing, audiology, and applied mechanics are on the chopping block. Undergraduate degrees in chemistry education, Russian, and German teaching, along with various certificates and minors, are also included in the list of cuts.
Richard Preiss, the president of the university’s Academic Senate, noted that the Executive Committee of the Senate reviewed the proposed program cuts. According to university data, most of the programs slated for elimination had graduated no more than one student in the past eight years, with some programs reporting zero graduates. A university representative clarified that while some programs had very low enrollment, others had managed to attract up to a dozen students. The threshold for identifying programs as inactive or low-enrollment was set at 15 students.
Preiss emphasized that although the decision-making process was expedited, faculty members were still afforded the opportunity to provide substantial feedback on the proposed cuts.
“These cuts were relatively straightforward and did not cause significant distress,” Preiss remarked. “However, I expect that more challenging decisions may lie ahead as we navigate this new landscape.”