Western Illinois University’s Board of Trustees are planning to meet on Friday to discuss eliminating four academic majors. This elimination is due to the declining student enrollment. The majors are:
African American Studies
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Women’s Studies
Interim Provost Kathy Neumann says students in these programs currently will be able to finish their degree, but no new students will be allowed into the majors. Students will still be able to take some of the courses for minors and general education requirements.
The Academic Program Elimination Review (APER) Committee will review all recommendations given to them before they decide to cut the programs.
There are other majors under review for improvement, and possible merging together. Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Public Health, Geography, and Musical Theater could possibly all be up for modifications on June 10th.
Students and faculty continue to vote in the online petition available to keep those majors alive. So far more than 1,500 people have signed onto support these majors from being eliminated.
The board will meet on Friday, June 10th at the Quad Cities Campus
