UE Announces Realignment

(photo courtesy of the University of Evansville)

The University of Evansville is making drastic changes as it attempts to “ensure financial stability” and respond to changing demographics in higher education.

The President’s Council at UE announced plans this week to realign the academic structure of the private institution, including the elimination of three departments and 12 associated majors.

It would also mean some faculty layoffs.

“These changes are difficult, but they will allow us to continue to invest in areas of growth, make the university financially sustainable, and better able to support our students for years to come. Providing our students a transformative education remains our highest priority at the University of Evansville,” UE President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz said in a statement.

The school would get rid of the departments of music, philosophy & religion, and electrical engineering and computer science.  It would no longer offer the majors of cognitive science, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, ethics and social change, music, music education, music performance, music therapy, philosophy, religion, and software engineering.

The private university says five additional majors, art history, history, physics, political science, and Spanish would also be eliminated.

Officials say all current students will be able to complete their majors.  The changes would take effect for the fall semester of 2022.

The university says faculty will have about 30 days to review the proposed academic realignment plan and provide feedback to the administration.

The president’s council expects to finalize the academic plan in early 2021.