The University of Southern Maine has placed 26 academic programs on probation—threatening suspension in an effort to reduce the school's spending, the Free Press reports. Endangered programs on "the list"—which includes some from the sciences as well as economics and the women's and gender studies program—haven't been cut (yet) but are up for evaluation.
The programs are being asked to develop a plan to address problems such as "low retention and graduation trends over time," inadequate funding, or issues with "internal communications and civility," among other things.
The university says current students and tenured faculty currently won't be affected by changes in disciplines, and certain programs are already planning their escape from the brink. One easy solution: "The largest major is undeclared," said one official. "My first rebel reaction is to ask students to join the majors on the list."
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