UToledo to cut multiple undergrad programs to comply with SB 1

This story was originally published on WTOL, a media partner of the Toledo Free Press.

By Troy Gingerich | WTOL

TOLEDO — The University of Toledo announced plans to suspend admission to several undergraduate degree programs to comply with recently passed Senate Bill 1 in Ohio, and cuts to other degree programs as part of a “prioritization process.”

UToledo plans to phase out several low-enrollment degree programs starting with the 2025-26 academic year. While admissions to these programs will be suspended, the university says students already enrolled in these programs will be able to finish their degrees without interruption.

The university says the prioritization process is in response to a “challenging time in higher education,” as colleges are dealing with a declining population of high school graduates entering college, current student retention challenges and rising costs of operation.

“This effort is aligned with the UToledo Reimagined strategic plan that includes the stated goal to deliver relevant and innovative academic programs,” the university’s website says.

“While there may be some immediate cost savings, the goals of this effort are more focused on growth as UToledo’s student enrollment, retention and graduation rates improve as the University becomes more competitive.”

UToledo says the Office of the Provost worked alongside college deans to evaluate programs based on several factors, such as student and workforce demand, accreditation requirements and the potential to offer courses as minors or certificates instead.

Courses in the affected areas will still be available as part of the university’s core curriculum or as components of minors and certificates, the university says.

The timing of these moves coincides with new state requirements. Ohio Senate Bill 1, recently signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine, mandates that universities eliminate undergraduate programs that consistently graduate fewer than five students per year over a three-year span.

Undergraduate programs being suspended to comply with SB 1:

The programs remain available as minors for students still interested in these areas of study, the university says.

Several other degree programs will be suspended as part of the provost’s review of the recommendations of the Program Reallocation and Investment Committee:

For more information on the Academic Program Prioritization, visit the university's website.