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Academic changes coming to ‘meet evolving needs of students, region’ at Youngstown State

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters
The sign outside Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio.
William D. Lewis | Mahoning Matters

After over three years of reviewing majors and programs offered, Youngstown State University announced they’re changing what classes will be available.

This week, YSU revealed they’re implementing a new “strategic repositioning” plan of the university’s academic offerings, or what majors and programs they offer incoming students.

The strategic repositioning plan aims to “optimize resources and invest in programs with high enrollment and market demand.”

It also involves adding faculty positions to these flourishing majors to ensure students’ instructional needs are met.

“Investing in the academic portfolio’s key areas aligns with our commitment to preparing future-ready professionals and contributing to regional workforce development,” said YSU’s Interim Provost Jennifer Pintar.

Which majors will be affected?

The university allocated resources to the following majors with substantial growth potential and demand in the job market:

  • Chemistry/Biology
  • Engineering
  • Computer science/Cybersecurity
  • Forensic science
  • Nursing
  • Exercise science

YSU also approved 16 new faculty positions across these majors to facilitate this strategic realignment

Majors that ‘need enhancement’

At the same time, the academic offerings plan identified 12 majors that “need enhancement,” according to the university.

“To create a sustainable and robust academic environment, we’ve evaluated program performance and market needs,” stated Pintar. “These changes are part of a proactive strategy to focus our resources where they’re most impactful and to align our offerings with evolving business/industry demands.”

This means the university’s faculty, chairs and deans work with the Office of Academic Affairs on plans and strategies to revitalize the 12 programs.

Hopefully, enhanced programs will attract more students to enroll.

These are the 12 majors they identified:

  • Multimedia communication
  • Public Health
  • Dental hygiene
  • Sociology
  • Economics
  • Sociology
  • Philosophy
  • Journalism
  • Environmental science
  • Anthropology
  • Dietetics
  • Physics/Astronomy

Phasing out majors

A few programs at YSU are being “sunsetted” or phased out due to low enrollment.

This means that the university will no longer admit new students to these specific programs starting this year.

Even though new students in the majors won’t be admitted, all current students can complete their degrees at YSU even if they’re being phased out.

The school said individual “teach out” plans and dedicated advising support will be provided to students in the phased-out programs to ensure they remain on track toward graduation.

The programs being phased out include:

  • Geography
  • Music composition (including graduate programs)
  • Music jazz studies (graduate program)
  • Art education
  • Interdisciplinary Studio Art
  • Digital Media/Photography

Dean: ‘This does not mean that the Dana School of Music is being shut down’

Phyllis Paul, the Cliffe College of Creative Arts dean, explained what this means for future music and arts programs.

“The phase-out of these music majors does not mean that the Dana School of Music is being shut down,” said Paul.

According to Paul, the Dana School of Music will still offer bachelor’s and online master’s of music education bachelor’s and master’s of music performance and audio music production degrees.

The university wants them to “create innovative ways to differentiate and improve the marketability of graduates” in music performance.

The community ties built through the Dana School of Music will continue with the Dana Marching Band, Dana Orchestra, other ensembles, and other community-based initiatives like the YSU Youth Orchestra and YSU String Project.

The university representatives also said they might have to lay off up to 13 faculty members.

“Student enrollment drives the financial foundation of music programs in the Dana School of Music. When students choose one program over another, those courses left under-enrolled must be reimagined,” stated Michael R. Crist, former Director of the Dana School of Music and YSU professor emeritus. “I’m sad to know that jobs will be lost due to low enrollment at Dana. I’m optimistic the faculty and administration will work together to rebuild an even stronger Dana School of Music.”

Graphic and interactive design will become an individual major, separate from the Studio Art major.

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This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 12:00 AM.