Board approves faculty handbook updates and closes two low-enrollment master's programs

The Board of Visitors voted on a package of academic items during its June 5 meeting, approving three updates to the teaching and research faculty handbook and adopting two recommendations to close graduate programs the committee found to have low enrollment.

The Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee moved to approve handbook updates to (1) include the College of Nursing in college governance, (2) delete a separate graduate-faculty classification provision, and (3) remove a reference to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. The board adopted those changes in a single block motion after committee presentation.

The board also approved two program-closure recommendations from the committee. The board moved to close the Master of Science in Data and Information Management because of consistently low enrollment and low productivity in the program portfolio. The board separately approved closing the Master of Science in Athletic Training, again citing insufficient enrollment and program productivity; meeting discussion noted there were no immediate personnel terminations tied to the closures.

Why it matters: Formal closures remove programs from the university catalog and shift advising, budgeting and course-planning decisions; they can preserve resources for higher-demand programs. The board recorded the motions and adopted them by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.

Next steps: Committee and administration materials conveyed that details about teach-out plans, student notification and any transfer arrangements were provided to the board during committee meetings; the minutes will reflect the effective dates and administrative follow-up.