Officials with Edinboro University say the school won't cut bachelor degree programs in music and music education as it works to address a budget deficit. In July, the state system of higher education school had said that it might cut the music programs because there were only 70 students enrolled in them. Now, the school's interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, Michael Hannan, said the music department will not be cut, but will be restructured a bit.
“The program will be slightly smaller, there’ll be a reduction in the number of faculty members, there’ll be a reduction in the number of ensembles the university currently offers,” said Hannan. “Those ensembles are available to current music majors and non-music majors who have an interest and talent in music.”
The school in northwestern Pennsylvania announced in September plans to cut more than 50 staff, including 42 professors, and eventually eliminate five majors due to declining enrollment and a projected $5.5 million deficit.
“The budget deficit has risen to $7 million as a result in reduction of state funding as well as a drop in enrollment in recent years,” said Hannan.
Final decisions on faculty and staff cuts still need to be made. Starting next week, the provost along with the deans of various schools and colleges will meet with faculty members about to possible need to cut back on positions. There is a deadline of October 30th to let tenured faculty know whether or not they’ll still have jobs.
“The goal is to let tenured and tenure-track faculty know by that deadline whether or not there might be a possibility that their positions might not be needed next year,” said Hannan.
It’s still unknown if the school still plans to cut German, philosophy, and world languages and culture programs. Edinboro University has more than 7,000 students.
