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COLUMBUS, Ohio - The University of Akron and Kent State University are eliminating degree programs to comply with state Senate Bill 1, a sweeping higher education bill that lawmakers passed earlier this year. SB 1 requires public colleges and universities to eliminate programs that confer an average of fewer than five degrees a year over any three-year period. It went into effect in late June. Since then, schools have announced program cuts, including the University of Toledo, Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College. Cleveland State University announced it would discontinue 22 programs, not as part of SB 1, but as part of a separate review of programs that began in 2023. As with the other colleges, UA and Kent State both said that students currently enrolled in programs that are to be cut can finish their degrees. Generally, new enrollment will discontinue. The program cuts come as Point Park University in Pittsburgh has launched a scholarship program for Ohio students whose academic programs have been eliminated due to budget cuts and SB 1. Read More: Pittsburgh university creates scholarship for Ohio students hit by fallout of SB 1 UA programs Every three years, the University of Akron reviews programs for duplication at other universities and for low enrollment, which is required under state law. College administrators recently developed lists of programs to eliminate to comply with that law, as well as the requirements of SB 1, college spokeswoman Cristine Boyd said. Below are eleven programs that will be cut: - Corrosion Engineering Technology, associate of applied science - Corrosion Engineering, bachelor of science - Fire Protection Technology, A.A.S. -Construction Field Operations, associate of arts - Dance Education, bachelor of arts - Theatre Arts, B.A. - Theatre and Film Studies, B.A. - Physical Theatre, B.A. -Humanities, B.A. -Natural Sciences, B.S. - Anthropology, A.S. “These inactivations have limited impact on students, as all programs except one have no student enrollment, and several programs had admissions previously suspended,” Boyd said. “These programs are at various stages of the curriculum process for formal inactivation.” KSU cuts Kent State officials identified 24 programs that met SB 1’s low-enrollment threshold, said university spokesperson Eric Mansfield. KSU has requested the Ohio Department of Higher Education give two-year waivers for the following programs, to support efforts to increase enrollment and degree completion rates. The department hasn’t yet responded to KSU’s request. - Botany (now Plant Biology), bachelor of science - Philosophy, bachelor of arts - Music, B.A. -Medical Laboratory Science, B.S. -Insurance Studies - B.S. Kent State has requested a temporary one-year waiver on the remaining 19 programs to complete the current academic year, with plans to sunset or merge the degree programs ahead of Fall 2026. The school hasn’t heard back from the state on this matter, either. -Earth Science, bachelor of education. -Life Science - B.S.E. -Life Science/Chemistry - B.S.E. -Physical Science - B.S.E. -Earth Science - B.A. -Horticulture Technology, associate of applied science -Physics, B.A. -Radiologic Technology, associate of technical study -School Health Education, B.S.E. -Africana Studies, B.A. -Community Health Education, B.S. -Dance, bachelor of fine arts -Horticulture – bachelor of applied horticulture -Chemistry, B.A. -Dance Studies, B.A. -Classics, B.A. -French, B.A. -Mathematics, B.A. -Respiratory Care, B.S. In many cases, students will be able to major in similar areas of study. For instance, the B.A. in math will sunset, but the B.S. in math is continuing, Mansfield said. “Bachelor’s degrees in physical science, physics, chemistry and respiratory care follow similar paths,” he said. Some programs will merge. The Radiologic Technology A.T.S. degree will be merged into the Radiologic Technology A.A.S. degree. Pittsburgh scholarship In the wake of SB1, Point Park University’s Buckeye Fresh Start Scholarship offers annual merit awards of $16,000 to $22,000, plus an additional $5,000 scholarship for students transferring from affected Ohio institutions, according to the private university. Point Park, which enrolls 3,500 students, said it will expedite transfer credit evaluations and provide personalized counseling. Marlin Collingwood, Point Park’s vice president of enrollment, said the scholarship responds to increased stress and uncertainty for students affected by the widespread program eliminations. “Many of Point Park’s innovative academic programs in business, communications, the sciences and the arts are thriving, even as similar programs are being cut or de-emphasized in Ohio,” he said. “We’re committed to helping these students find a supportive academic home and graduate on schedule despite the abrupt challenges they’ve faced.” Point Park isn’t the only university recruiting Ohio students since SB 1 went into effect. Eastern Michigan University has run ads on social media, recruiting students affected by other aspects of the law. In addition to mandating colleges axe programs, SB 1 requires schools to generally end all diversity, equity and inclusion training, departments and scholarships. Professors must post online all syllabi for the public to inspect. Schools cannot endorse or oppose any controversial belief or policy on “climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion,” the bill states. “At EMU, you’re free to be you,” said an EMU ad that ran in June. “No out of state tuition fees.”
