DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake's Faculty Senate voted to eliminate three programs from the university on Wednesday, the university confirmed with Local 5 on Thursday.
The Senate weighed in on nine different programs available at the university, opting to eliminate its evidence-based health care graduate certificate, East Asian studies minor and religion major.
Here's what survived the senate's vote, according to The Times-Delphic:
- Master of Accounting
- Master of Public Administration
- Physics major
- Astronomy major
- Rhetoric and Media Studies major
- Rhetoric minor
The programs on the chopping block were fewer than the original 13 majors, minors and certificates the university announced in early March.
"Personally, as a faculty member, who did receive a termination letter and could be terminated after 18 years and tenure, it is incredibly distressing," said Dr. Faber McAlister, an Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies.
Drake University student Thalia Theivault has heard some of her classmates and professors worry about the possible changes.
"I have a few friends who have minors or majors in religion, so they've been kind of anxious about that, as well as my math professor and my friends in astronomy," Theivault told Local 5.
Astronomy student James Campbell told Local 5 that, though the program's elimination did not pass through the Drake Faculty Senate, a panic spiraled throughout the department leading up to the meeting.
"Every day we go into class, he's very nervous. He's talking about how this is affecting them," Campbell said. "And the teachers don't really know what's going to happen."
Thalia feels Drake University has communicated well and been transparent throughout the process, but she wants the university to consider her professors' careers.
"I just hope that there's a way we can make sure that their transitions are super smooth," Theivault said.
Other students aren't just concerned about educational cuts, but the clubs associated with the programs.
"They don't know if their programs can be able to continue, if they're able to have a club, just because of the cuts," Campbell said.
It's important to note Wednesday's vote is not reflective of the final program cuts. Those will be announced on Monday, April 29, after President Marty Martin and the Board of Trustees review and finalize the changes.
According to Drake University Provost Sue Mattison, the Board of Trustees has the ability to eliminate any of the academic programs without the senate's input. So, even though six of the majors and minors were deemed safe on Wednesday, university higher-ups could change that come late April.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.