(Courtesy: University of North Texas)
DENTON, Texas - In the wake of a $45 million budget deficit, the University of North Texas is closing or consolidating several degree programs.
Degree programs closing
What we know:
UNT announced the closure or consolidation of several graduate and undergraduate degree programs.
Students who were already enrolled in programs that are scheduled to close will be able to complete those degrees as planned. UNT will work with faculty to ensure the change does not affect academic progress.
The biggest change is the closing of degree programs from the Department of Linguistics, which is being merged with its Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
Other changes include:
- 3 master’s programs due to low enrollment (an average of 15 or fewer students per year over the past five years)
- 1 undergraduate major due to low enrollment as well as relatively lower time to value and higher cost of instruction
- 25 undergraduate minors that have average enrollments of 20 students or fewer since 2021
- 21 graduate and 21 undergraduate certificates that have average enrollments below two students per year
UNT's budget deficit
The backstory:
The University of North Texas is now projecting a $45 million deficit, about $14 million larger than projected.
A major factor the university president is pointing to is a sharp decline in one category of master’s degree students, who typically pay more in tuition than in-state students.
University of North Texas warns of budget cuts amid $45 million deficit
The University of North Texas is facing a $45 million structural deficit primarily driven by a sharp decline in international master's student enrollment, a trend attributed to tightening federal visa policies and shifting geopolitical tensions.
According to the university, it grew rapidly over the last decade in part because of those students. But now shifts in federal immigration policies have made it harder for many international students to enroll and stay in the United States.
"Nobody could have envisioned what was going to be happening in international student enrollments," said Keller.
The Source: Information in this story came from a University of North Texas press release and previous FOX 4 reporting.