GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – UW-Green Bay could be changing what it offers as majors and minors for incoming students.
With nearly 100 majors, minors and areas of emphasis, UW-Green Bay has a wide variety of programs for students to explore and study — but the University could soon be eliminating some of them.
UW-Green Bay sent out a letter to all employees Tuesday, notifying them of the potential discontinuations.
Those majors include Economics, Environmental Policy & Planning and Theatre & Dance.
“Of course we’re always going to have theatre at UW-Green Bay and our goal would be to make sure that as many students as possible across the university are engaged in theatre, or in the arts, or in any, or economics,” said Michael Alexander, UW-Green Bay’s chancellor. “Of course we’re going to teach economics. Of course we’re going to teach these other things. It’s a question of whether we need a major.”
No decision has been made yet.
UW-Green Bay leaders stress that whatever they do decide, it will not include any staffing or program cuts.
“We’re not cutting,” added Alexander. “We’re only talking about how to evolve those programs.”
Current students would not be affected by any decision made by the University.
But, with the future of the theatre major up in the air, students are speaking out.
“If we’re just doing a minor, if we’re just doing a show, we’re not going to have this amount of staff,” said Alax Stylinson, a senior at UW Green Bay. “We’re not going to have the amount of professors here putting in the time with their students.”
“We have award-winning students, alumni, faculty, and to keep all of that,” said Ally Swigert, who is also a senior. “If we’re losing the major, though I believe in everyone’s ability, I know people would still be participating, it’s hard to reach that bar.”
UW-Green Bay says no matter what decision is eventually made, they will not sacrifice the quality of education offered.
“We’re really proud of a UW-Green Bay degree and what it’s meant to over 50,000 people over the 58 years we’ve been here, and the kind of work they are doing all over the world,” said Alexander.
