West Virginia University approves academic program and faculty cuts due to budget shortfall
West Virginia University gave final approval Friday to wide-ranging cuts to academic programs and faculty positions, the culmination of a heated back-and-forth between the campus community, students and officials as the university closes a $45 million budget gap.
The university’s Board of Governors voted to eliminate 28 of its majors, or about 8 percent, and cut 147 faculty positions, or 5.7 percent, at its Morgantown campus. Among the cuts are a third of the education department’s faculty and the entire world languages department, although seven language teaching positions will be retained and students will be allowed to take some language electives.
The vote in Morgantown came as the university was weighed down financially by a 10% decline in enrollment since 2015, lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic and mounting debt for new construction projects.
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On Monday, August 21, 2023, West Virginia University students rally in front of Stewart Hall in Morgantown, West Virginia, to voice their opposition to program cuts in world languages, creative writing and other fields , caused by a budget deficit of 45 million dollars. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham, file)
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The cuts come on top of those made in June, when the board approved $7 million in staff reductions, or about 132 positions, eliminated 12 graduate and doctoral programs and approved an increase in tuition fees. tuition of 3%.
Dozens of speakers, including students and faculty, vehemently opposed the cuts during a public hearing Thursday before the board of trustees.
Earlier this month, a group of teachers approved separate symbolic motions expressing defiance in President E. Gordon Gee and calling for a freeze on ongoing budget cuts, which the American Federation of Teachers called “draconian and catastrophic “.
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