University Of Calgary To Scrap 19 of Its Programs

University Of Calgary

University of Calgary officials will seek permission from the province to scrap 19 programs, ranging from music theory to applied physics.

The offerings have seen low or no enrollment in recent years and the request to eliminate them is a matter of “good management,” the institution’s provost said.

Dru Marshall added that planning for the program cuts began months before the province slashed post-secondary funding by seven per cent in March and was unrelated to current fiscal realities facing the university.

Still, word that 11 programs would be cut from the Faculty of Arts, along with seven from the Faculty of Science and one from the Faculty of Kinesiology left student representatives wondering about impacts to course choice.

“You may not major in that topic but it’s always good to have the option to take a class in it to mature your own experience,” said Raphael Jacob, president of the Students’ Union and an arts major. “I think that’s really where we’re going to see all students, not just those at U of C, be affected by these cuts, is with the quality of your education.”

The U of C made it clear any students currently enrolled in the tentatively eliminated courses would have the option of continuing on until graduation.

Marshall was not available for an interview Wednesday but said in an e-mail statement, “It is important to note that the University of Calgary continues to enroll the largest number of students in our history, and we are doing so using a sustainable growth model.”

Jacob, meanwhile, said he firmly believes his school is a better financial position than other schools like the University of Alberta, which announced this week it’s cutting 20 arts programs and 300 student science positions, and Mount Royal University, which suspended eight programs in the spring and will reduce enrollment in nursing, education, media studies and other areas.

Jacob added, “If there has to be a silver lining in this, at least it has forced our universities and our colleges across the province to look at ways to save money and work on efficiencies.”