In the news: Superior suspends academic programs, makes other tough cuts

Our friends at UW-Superior announced some tough budget cuts Thursday (May 22), saying they’re suspending more than a dozen programs — mostly graduate programs — reviewing another third of all academic programs and evaluating such non-academic areas as advising, tutoring and career services, campus safety, information technology and marketing. A nine-month self study revealed UW-Superior needs to identify $4.5 million in budget reductions and revenue enhancements during the next five years due to a combination of enrollment challenges, state budget cuts and tuition freezes. The suspended programs will stop accepting new students May 28, and students currently enrolled have until August 2017 to finish. “Our campus has to be prudent with the resources available to us,” UW-Superior Chancellor Renee Wachter said in a news release. “We must take action. These steps and discussions, while difficult, are necessary to protect and sustain the university’s quality as well as its presence in, and commitment to, the Superior region for decades to come.” UW-Superior’s complete press release, including a list of suspended programs, is available here. A Wisconsin Public Radio story can be heard here.