UW-Stevens Point plans two forums on proposed cuts, expansions of majors

By Alan Hovorka, Stevens Point Journal

STEVENS POINT - As the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point community continues to wrangle with proposed changes to major offerings, officials have scheduled two public forums to address questions.

UW-Stevens Point will hold a forum geared toward faculty and staff of the university at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 15, where administrators plan to provide details on the proposal and answer questions. Students are welcome to attend the faculty and staff session. 

Another forum for students is slated for 6 p.m. Monday, March 19. 

Both forums are in the Dreyfus University Center. 

Chancellor Bernie Patterson and Provost Greg Summers will lead both sessions. Nick Schultz, university spokeswoman, said deans of academic colleges and the associate provost for enrollment management will be available at the events. 

The upcoming forums follow two sessions that occurred this week and last week. On March 8, Patterson and Summers spent four hours at a Student Government Association meeting, Schultz said. 

On Tuesday, more than 150 people attended a town hall session held by UW-Stevens Point Student Government Association and state Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point. Members of the public expressed anger and a variety of concerns about how the proposed cuts of 13 liberal arts majors will impact the school and the Stevens Point community.

University administrators last week released a proposal to eliminate 13 liberal arts degree programs, including English, history and political science. The cuts of 13 majors and the additions or expansions of 16 majors are part of university efforts to deal with a projected deficit of $4.5 million through two years because of declining enrollment and lower tuition revenues.