In light of budgetary difficulties, Clark University has begun eliminating departments and reducing course options. The first programs to be targeted are French and Francophone Studies, Comparative Literature, Ancient Civilization and Studio Art. According to faculty sources, students will not be able to declare majors or minors in these programs starting in the Fall 2025 semester, with the exception of Studio Art, which students will still be able to declare a minor in.
These changes were first alluded to in a December 6 email from Provost John Magee sent to all faculty. The email recommended that these four programs, along with Asian Studies, be “discontinued in part or in full.”
The December 6 email listed several additional programs to be either restructured or reexamined including Philosophy, Chemistry, Finance, Theater Arts, Education and the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies.
Faculty, who wished to remain anonymous, expect that current students majoring or minoring in the affected programs will be able to complete their programs of study. However, course offerings may decrease as the programs are phased out and faculty positions are eliminated.
Faculty sources were able to provide very little detail about the specifics of this process, citing “confusing” and “very vague” communication from administrators.
Although some faculty have been informed that their programs are being eliminated beginning next semester, French and Francophone Studies, Comparative Literature, Ancient Civilization, and Studio Art are all still listed as possible majors on the Clark University website for prospective students to see. There has also been no official communication to current students about the planned changes.
Anonymous faculty sources in affected departments have confirmed that current students will no longer be able to declare majors or minors in their programs beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, with the exception of Studio Art, which is retaining its minor program.
Faculty in the affected departments encouraged students planning or considering declaring a major or minor in their program to do so this semester while the option still exists.
The changes come on the heels of lower than expected enrollment for the Class of 2028. Moreover, University administrators are keenly aware that the pool of prospective college students is shrinking due to declines in birth rates, according to Magee’s December 6 communication.
In addition to these financial headwinds, Clark has also been attempting to expand into new areas that will enhance its brand and double down on known competencies. This includes the Becker School of Design & Technology and the forthcoming School of Climate, Environment, and Society, which have both required a significant redeployment of financial resources.
According to faculty, initial plans merely involved restructuring programs, but Clark’s deteriorating fiscal position has left administrators scrambling to cut costs by eliminating programs and faculty positions.
Faculty in the affected areas also communicated that while no personnel decisions have been made, the University has made it clear that some faculty positions will need to be eliminated over the next few years, leaving the future of these departments in even further doubt.
While the present cuts are concerning news for many Clarkies, faculty who spoke with The Scarlet stressed that as Clark continues to grapple with its financial situation more painful decisions will have to be made.
As one faculty member put it: “this was only the first round of cuts, and there will be others.”
Correction: In the March 28 print edition of The Scarlet, Samuel Whitley was not credited as author in the byline of the piece. The Scarlet deeply regrets this major error.
