The University of Connecticut board of trustees met yesterday and addressed closing majors, concerns over federal directives and another year of high applications.
Program Closures
The board voted to consolidate three mathematics majors and close two graduate medieval studies degrees at their meeting.
In the mathematics department, the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematical Studies, Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematical Studies and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics-Physics will have their last term of admission as separate majors in the fall semester of 2025.
According to Damir Dzhafarov, the director of undergraduate studies in the mathematics department, the applied math major will become the applied math track within the newly consolidated math major, while the current math major will be a separate pure math track. Dzhafarov added that the department will launch a new mathematics teaching track alongside the other two, and all three tracks will offer a B.A. or B.S. degree option for students.
Dzhafarov said in an email that “future students will therefore have the same degree options as currently enrolled students, and the same choice of courses and specializations.”
In her official recommendation to the board, UConn Provost Anne D’Alleva said the “consolidation within the Department of Mathematics” would “bring the program more in-line with math departments at peer and aspirant institutions.”
Dzhafarov explained that the decision to consolidate the majors was the culmination of two years of planning to “strengthen a healthy major and make it even more exciting and competitive.”
“Overall the mathematics major will be strengthened by building a stronger common foundation for all students.” the recommendation said.
D’Alleva’s recommendation also clarified the B.S. in Mathematics-Physics would continue to be offered through the Department of Physics.
The board also voted to close the Master of Arts and doctorate programs in Medieval Studies.
D’Alleva’s recommendation to close the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Medieval Studies said that, although graduate degrees in these programs had been offered for over 50 years at UConn, “there has been a nationwide steady decline in the field.”
The recommendation explains that the M.A. program has had no enrollments since the 2018-2019 academic year, while the Ph.D. programs had six completions since the 2018-2019 academic year. According to D’Alleva’s recommendation, there is one student currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program.
“As the only student in the programs is completing their doctoral studies, no impact on current students is anticipated, and no teach-out plan is required,” the recommendation said.
At the board meeting, Jeanine Gouin, vice-chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, noted “these closures were recommended at the department level due to very low enrollment.”
Responding to Federal Actions
At multiple points throughout the meeting, board members and those presenting to the board acknowledged concerns about recent initiatives from the executive branch that reduced government support for higher education.
Daniel Toscano, the board chair, took a moment to recognize the “uncertainty around higher education.” He said the UConn community is not immune to the uncertainty but is doing its best to navigate the situation. He emphasized that UConn’s highest obligation was to its students and that “the principles that guide this university have not changed.”
“Our commitment to our students and to fairness and to equality of opportunity, and on and on, are unwavering,” said Toscano.
These points were later echoed by Andrea Dennis-LaVigne, the vice-chair of the committee for diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Our mission will be unwavered, and we will dig deep on concerns and be as active as possible,” said Dennis-LaVigne.
D’Alleva presented the president’s report instead of UConn President Radenka Maric, who Toscano noted was traveling with a delegation in India led by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. D’Alleva commended efforts to support students through the “uncertainty and change” coming from executive orders.
“Of course we are monitoring these executive orders closely under the leadership of our general counsel’s office, and in concert with the attorney general’s office, to understand the impact and the guidance as we move forward,” said D’Alleva.
D’Alleva praised the vice president for research, Pamir Alpay, and his team for their work “supporting our research enterprise” and research to understand the impacts of executive orders. She also noted efforts from the dean of students, Student Health and Wellness, student success units, cultural centers and faculty and staff to ensure students felt supported.
Senate executive committee chair Laura Burton delivered the University Senate report to the board. In the report, she acknowledged the “very high degree of anxiety” due to directives coming from the federal government.
“Members of the SEC have appreciated the thoughtful and transparent communication and dialogue we’ve had with President Maric and Provost D’Alleva and all the members of the senior leadership team, and we continue to be available for any and all conversations going forward and working together during this really uncertain time,” said Burton. “And of course, we’re all here to share the importance of our students and the great work of our staff and our faculty.”
Jeffrey Geoghegan, the executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer, said during his budget presentation that the spending of federal grants was going well, but is an “item that we have to monitor very closely.”
During public participation at the beginning of the meeting, Kathleen Tonry, an associate professor of English, thanked the university leadership for their advocacy, but asked them to “speak more directly and more boldly to a more uncomfortable truth.”
“Because our public universities have a specific responsibility to educate voting citizens, they also have a special responsibility to resist undemocratic movements, and this is where I’m asking you in this room for your bolder voices,” said Tonry.
Application Numbers
Vice president for student life and enrollment Nathan Fuerst presented on the enrollment numbers for the upcoming academic year.
“If you can believe it after a record year last year, we have about 5,500 more applications today than what we had last year on this date, so interest in the university continues to surge, not just at the Storrs campus, but really across all of our campuses,” said Fuerst.
Fuerst also noted that spring enrollment for this semester was “another high mark,” with just under 24,000 undergraduate students across all campuses, which he said was about 900 more than last year.
In response to a question from the board, Fuerst addressed the implications of decreased federal funding as the school navigates high enrollment and if it would affect Pell Grants.
“That’s an evolving situation as we speak,” said Fuerst. “As you know, in the last week there was chatter about a decline in the number of Pell recipients, but we haven’t seen that actually take effect or impact any of our students to date, so it’s really important for folks to hear that and appreciate it, but we’re going to continue to keep our close eye on that.”
This article was updated on Feb. 28 to clarify the consolidation process of the three math programs.