PROGRAM DISCONTINUANCE

Effective: August 15, 2024

Purpose: The purpose of the following policy and procedures statement have a policy and procedures whereby it may discontinue academic programs of study. 

This policy is subject to the Kansas Board of Regents' prerogative to exercise the Board’s Program Review and/or Program Discontinuance.  

Scope: This policy applies University-wide.

Responsible Office: Academic Affairs; Registrar’s Office

Policy Statement: The academic mission of the University requires that it constantly adopt, adapt, or terminate programs of study. Additionally, fluctuations in enrollment, increasing or declining levels of financial support, and a variety of changing technological, sociological, and other economic pressures underscore the need for program review and adjustment. When such review indicates that a program of study should be abridged or terminated, it should be recognized that such a decision profoundly affects the mission of the University; the commitment of the University to students enrolled in said program of study; and the responsibility of the University to those faculty and staff who may be dismissed as a result of program abridgment or discontinuance. 

Procedures

The Board of Regents Degree and Certificate Program Inventory for Regents Institutions is the basis for defining programs of study at the University. 

Program discontinuance may involve the abolition of any academic unit in which a degree or certificate is offered. It may also involve the abolition of a particular degree or certificate without otherwise effecting changes in the academic unit.

The determination that a program of study shall be discontinued is the decision of the President of the University, upon recommendation from the Vice President for Academic Affairs, that the University shall discontinue such a program. 

A decision to discontinue a program shall normally carry a three (3) year phase-out period. That period shall begin with the date announced by the President of the University. Students in the program shall be notified to complete their programs within the phase-out period. If it becomes impossible for students to complete their degree programs within the phase-out period, the University shall make every reasonable effort to assist the students.

Termination of an appointment with continuous tenure, or of a probationary or term appointment before the end of the specified term, may occur as a result of program discontinuance. Reasonable efforts shall be made to fulfill contractual term agreements, as applicable, with temporary or probationary faculty. The University shall make every reasonable effort to offer each effected tenured faculty member another suitable position. Such transfers, however, shall not displace other tenured or probationary faculty in the unit receiving the transfer. Tenured faculty shall be retained in favor of probationary faculty unless program needs dictate preferential treatment of probationary faculty.

Appeals

An academic unit which has a program under consideration for discontinuance may appeal to the President of the University for a reconsideration of a decision to discontinue or not discontinue a program. 

Due process must be scrupulously followed during Program Discontinuance. All of the rights and privileges of the faculty member to seek remedy for an alleged infringement of academic freedom or violation of established University tenure policies and procedures that provide faculty access to the University grievance procedures shall also apply to such allegations regarding actions taken by the University under Program Discontinuance. A faculty member may appeal the President's decision to dismiss through utilizing the University's grievance procedures. The appeal may be based only on the grounds that 1) the dismissal was based on a statutory or constitutionally impermissible reason, or 2) the procedure surrounding the dismissal was improper. Improper procedure includes (but is not limited to): 

• Violation of the Program Discontinuance procedures for arriving at the recommendation of discontinuance of the program in question. Such appeal, however, shall not address the substance of the recommendation.
• A violation of the Program Discontinuance procedures for arriving at the recommendation of non-reappointment of the individual. 
• Use of incomplete or erroneous data or information in the decision-making process by the President that led to the dismissal; that is, that the President had no basis in fact for not reappointing the individual. 
• Lack of a reasonable effort to place the faculty member in another suitable position in the University before the notice of intent to dismiss.

Where the basis of the appeal is statutory or constitutional impermissibility, the burden of proof is on the faculty member; where the basis of appeal is improper procedure, the burden of proof is on the President. The faculty member shall have access to all relevant information in the possession of the administration to aid in preparing the case based on any of the grounds listed above.

Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted, or otherwise applied, in such a way as to abrogate, circumvent, or prevent the powers and duties of the President of the University to govern the University as those powers and duties are prescribed by state statute or Board of Regents’ policy.

Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.

Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Academic Affairs. 

[Academic Affairs procedures - coming soon]

Related Policy Information: [coming soon]