Background
The university is facing a need to reduce expenditures as a result of declining enrollments over the past 10 years, and this has been exacerbated this past year by the COVID-19 pandemic. These enrollment declines reflect a decreasing number of Oregon high school graduates who may consider attending college, along with a decrease in the numbers of international and non-resident domestic students who are attending PSU. These declining enrollments have resulted in an overall decrease in PSU's tuition dollars, the chief source of our revenues. Based on analyses of the state's demographics, we do not foresee a significant change in this enrollment pattern for the next five years. While we will continue to seek ways to stabilize enrollments, we must simultaneously turn our attention to finding ways to match our expenditures to our expected revenues. OAA and the Faculty Senate are collaborating on a process for considering possible reorganization, reduction, or elimination of academic programs. In recognition of our shared governance responsibilities, that process involves establishing two committees that will work in tandem. The Program Reduction Working Group will work in partnership with the Faculty Senate-appointed Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Program Reductions and Curricular Adjustments (APRCA). The Faculty Senate appointed this committee in the fall, recognizing that we need to ensure that our processes for responding to Academic budget reductions are transparent and informed by faculty input.
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning offers a detailed explanation of the enrollment forecasting process on their Statistical Look webpage.
Provost's Program Reduction Working Group
The Program Reduction Working Group will support the need to have decisions that are data-informed by identifying metrics and conducting analyses that will inform recommendations of units to consider in the Program Reduction process. Final decisions of units to put forward will be informed by the analyses of this committee, the principles and priorities established by the APRCA committee, the mission and strategic goals of the university, and consultation across the campus community. This and additional information regarding their charge and college/school dashboards can be found on the Program Reduction Process web page.
Academic Program Reductions and Curricular Adjustments (APRCA) Committee
In June of 2020, the Faculty Senate charged the Ad Hoc Summer Research Committee on Academic Program Examination / Reorganization to envision models, explore options, and gather data. The summer committee submitted a report to Senate that recommended, among other things, the formation of another ad hoc committee. The APRCA committee was formed based on research and recommendations made to Faculty Senate by the Summer Ad-Hoc Research Committee on Academic Program Examination / Reorganization. The Faculty Senate approved the Ad Hoc Academic Program Reductions and Curricular Adjustments Committee in October 2020 to ensure meaningful faculty participation in all matters related to potential curricular adjustments and program reductions arising from budget reductions. The Committee is tasked with recommending principles and priorities based on PSU’s values and missions, with planning and implementing transparent communications, and with soliciting faculty input and feedback. Information regarding the committee's charge and the principles and priorities document and feedback form can be found on the Academic Program Reduction and Curricular Adjustments web page.
ReImagine PSU
ReImagine PSU is an intentional effort to provide spaces to create transformational possibilities at a larger scale. ReImagine PSU allows us to craft the university of the future while meeting our current needs for a sustainable budget and forms a critical component of OAA’s Closing the Gap strategy for addressing our budget challenges. Because ReImagine PSU will only succeed with the engagement of faculty and staff, the Provost is dedicating funds from Academic Affairs to respond to proposal requests for up to $25,000. These funds will be available throughout the 2021-22 academic year, beginning with the summer months of 2021. For more information regarding addressing challenges and opportunities, how to apply, and proposal deadlines, please visit the ReImagine PSU web page.