Like many other colleges and universities, Missouri Western is no longer able to subsidize and continue degree programs with small enrollments. Traditionally, higher education has approached operations with a “more-is-more” approach. Today, this is changing.  Tuition dollars and state funding simply don’t cover the costs to administer some of our smaller programs. We find it necessary to invest in our stronger programs to make them even better.

In higher education overall, universities are facing financial pressures due to declining state funding, demographic changes, increased competition, and now the unprecedented economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Missouri Western is no different. To sustain our operations, we must make strategic changes now that will help strengthen the University going forward.

The Board of Governors approved the Academic Program Review last month to evaluate programs that: (i) do not meet the state’s annual graduation guidelines (10 students/year in undergraduate programs or 5 students/year in graduate programs) or (ii) do not have sustainable enrollment levels to cover program expenses.

As part of this review process, the University convened an Academic Review Board (ARB). The ARB reviewed data such as enrollments, graduates, student credit hours, faculty counts, etc. together with external employment data to better understand student demand for majors/minors, program viability and career prospects. The ARB spent countless hours reviewing this data with a focus on financial sustainability. The review did not question the quality, value, or rigor of a program or any specific professor; by contrast, it looked closely at program viability.

The ARB presented their report to the provost on March 31. The provost shared the ARB report and his response to campus on April 4. Campus constituents have until April 15 to submit written comments to the provost. The provost will then make his final recommendations to the president, who in turn will make a recommendation to the Board of Governors for their meeting in late April.

Based on the objective suggestions made by the ARB, the provost is recommending to suspend new student enrollment and phase out certain programs (major, minor or concentration) over the course of the next two years. Keep in mind that Missouri Western’s Board of Governors has to vote to take any action to suspend enrollment or phase out programs. This list is a recommendation, based on the findings of the ARB.

If the Board of Governors votes to accept a recommendation to phase out a program, Missouri Western will immediately suspend new student enrollment into the program and provide a pathway for currently enrolled students to complete their degrees. If a degree program is slated to be phased out, that does NOT mean that courses will no longer be taught in that subject area. 

Most students should not be directly affected. More than 75% of Missouri Western students are enrolled in high enrollment programs not affected by the recommendations. Students who are in an affected program will work with a transition advisor to determine the best pathway to complete their Missouri Western degree. This will be unique to each student, but a customized teach-out plan could include courses on Missouri Western’s campus or through a partner institution.

Students in affected programs will have three years to complete their degree requirements. Students needing more time than three years may be able to complete their Missouri Western program through our partnerships with other universities. Missouri Western is committed to minimizing any negative impact on students while helping them obtain a Missouri Western degree.

Here is a list of the proposed academic program changes. Please note that this is a preliminary recommendation, and final decisions about any program must be approved by Missouri Western’s Board of Governors.

Degree/Minor/ Certificate

Program/Major/Concentration

Recommendation
BFA Graphic Design Maintain
Minor Graphic Design Maintain
BFA Digital Animation Maintain
BFA Studio Art Develop Teach Out Plan
BSE Art Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Art History Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Ceramics Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Digital Animation Maintain
Minor Drawing Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Illustration Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Painting Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Photography Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Printmaking Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Sculpture Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Music Maintain
BM Music Performance & Industry Develop Teach Out Plan
BM Music Technology & Industry Develop Teach Out Plan
BME Music/Instrumental Maintain
BME Music/Vocal Maintain
Minor Music Technology Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Musical Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Cinema Maintain
BA Theatre and Cinema/Cinema Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Theatre and Cinema/Musical Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Theatre and Cinema/Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
BSE Speech and Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Dance Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Speech & Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Theatre Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Maintain
BS Biology/Health Science Maintain
BS Wildlife Conservation and Management Maintain
Minor Biology Maintain
BS Biology/Botany Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Biology/General Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Biology/Zoology Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Biotechnology Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Natural Science  ̶  Biology Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Chemistry Develop Teach Out Plan or Redesign
BS Medical Laboratory Science * Med Tech Maintain
BS Natural Science  ̶  Chemistry/ChemBus Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Natural Science  ̶  Chem/Education Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Natural Science  ̶  Chem/Forensic Science Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Natural Science  ̶  Chem/Health Professions Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Chemistry Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Speech Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Convergent Journalism Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Strategic Communication Maintain
BS Speech Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Journalism Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Speech Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Geography Maintain
BA History Develop Teach Out Plan
BA History/Teacher Cert Develop Teach Out Plan
BS History Develop Teach Out Plan
BS History/Teacher Cert Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor General History Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor History European Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor History US Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Philosophy Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Philosophy Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Philosophy/Religion Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Humanities Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Philosophy Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Religion Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Computer Science/General Maintain
Minor Computer Science Maintain
MS Info. Technology Assurance Administration (Cyber) Maintain
BS Applied Computer Technology Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Computer Science/Computer Info Systems Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Applied Computer Technology Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Computer Information Systems  ̶  COMI Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Mathematics Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Mathematics/Teacher Education Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Mathematics Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Physics Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Spanish Develop Teach Out Plan
BSE English Develop Teach Out Plan
BSE French Develop Teach Out Plan
BSE Spanish Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor French Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor German Develop Teach Out Plan
BA English/Creative Writing & Publishing Develop Teach Out Plan
BA English/Literature Develop Teach Out Plan
BA English/Technical Communications Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Modern Languages/ Language & Culture Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Modern Languages/ Professional Applications Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Technical Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
GR Cert Teaching of Writing Develop Teach Out Plan
GR Cert Technical Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Creative Writing Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor English Education Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor English Studies Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Literature Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Technical Communication Develop Teach Out Plan
BA Political Science Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Political Science Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Political Science (Am Gov) Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Political Science (Int Affairs) Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Political Science Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Sociology Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Sociology Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Economics Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Economics Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Psychology/General Maintain
Minor Cognitive Sciences Maintain
Minor Psych Maintain
BS Psychology/Org Leadership Develop Teach Out Plan
AS Criminal Justice Maintain
AS Legal Assistant Maintain
BS Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Maintain
BS Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Maintain
Cert Legal Assistant Maintain
MAS Forensic Investigations Maintain
Minor Criminal Justice Maintain
Minor Legal Studies Maintain
BS Criminal Justice/Corrections Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice Develop Teach Out Plan
GR Cert Forensic Investigations Develop Teach Out Plan
BSW Social Work Maintain
BSE Early Childhood Education Maintain
BSE Elementary Education Maintain
BSE Special Education Maintain
GR Cert TESOL Maintain
MAS Assessment, Differentiated Instruction Maintain
MAS Assessment/K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Ed.  ̶  GSPE Maintain
MAS Assessment/TESOL Maintain
BS Physical Education/Personal & Commercial Fitness Maintain
BS Recreation Sports Management/Sport Management Maintain
BS Physical Education/Health & Exercise Science Maintain
MAS Applied Science/Sport & Fitness Management Maintain
Minor Athletic Coaching Maintain
BS Physical Education/Teacher Education Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Recreation Sports Mgmt/Recreation Management Develop Teach Out Plan
BS Physical Education/General Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Recreation Sport Management Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Wellness Develop Teach Out Plan
AAS Physical Therapist Assistant Maintain
BS Population Health Management Maintain
BSN Nursing Maintain
GR Cert Nurse Educator Maintain
MSN Health Care Leadership Maintain
MSN Nurse Educator Maintain
BS Health Information Management Develop Teach Out Plan
Cert Health Information Technology Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Health Informatics & Information Mgmt. Develop Teach Out Plan
BSBA Accounting Maintain
BSBA Finance Maintain
BSBA Management Maintain
BSBA Management/Human Resources Maintain
BSBA Marketing Maintain
BSBA Supply Chain Management Maintain
MBA Business Administration/General Business Maintain
MBA Forensic Accounting Maintain
MBA + MSN MBA + Nursing Maintain
Minor Entrepreneurship Maintain
Minor Finance Maintain
Minor General Business Maintain
AAS Manufacturing Engineering Technology Maintain
BS Construction Engineering Technology Maintain
BS Manufacturing Engineering Technology Maintain
Minor Construction Management Maintain
Minor Manufacturing Technology Maintain
MAS Applied Science/Engineering Technology Mgmt Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor Gender and Power Studies Develop Teach Out Plan or Redesign
Minor Leadership Develop Teach Out Plan or Redesign
Minor Peace and Conflict Studies Develop Teach Out Plan or Redesign
Minor Childhood Studies Maintain
BGS General Studies Maintain
BST Custom Major Maintain
BA International Studies Develop Teach Out Plan
GR Cert Leadership Studies Develop Teach Out Plan
GR Cert Professional Skills Develop Teach Out Plan
Minor International Studies Develop Teach Out Plan