Program and Personnel Changes at Kean University in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

UNION, N.J. — Kean University today took the first steps needed to close an estimated $20 million budget deficit from COVID-19 by eliminating four chronically low-enrolled academic programs and their faculty, as well as six managers.

The elimination of the University’s bachelor’s degree programs in music, sustainability sciences, theatre and economics will not impact current students who will be supported through their graduations. The program changes are expected to save the University more than $2 million annually.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the budgets of higher education institutions around the country, and Kean is no exception,” said Kean President Dawood Farahi, Ph.D. “These are tremendously difficult decisions, but we must ensure the University is able to support the programs that it does best and that continue to draw demand from students. We must live up to our fiduciary responsibility to the institution and to our students.”

The Board of Trustees approved the program suspensions and other cost-saving measures on Monday at its public meeting. The University notified a dozen faculty members associated with the eliminated programs of their retrenchment on Friday, marking the first step in a series of personnel and program changes. Another half dozen office managers were notified on Friday that their positions were eliminated.

The University has experienced a 50 percent reduction in state aid since the pandemic began and has reimbursed students for more than $5 million worth of dining and housing costs. Revenue from campus events, summer rentals, and conference and theatre programs has also been lost. In addition to this year’s $20 million budget deficit, the University anticipates another deficit as high as $15 million for fiscal year 2021, which starts in July.

The four programs have a combined current enrollment of 126 students, less than 1 percent of Kean’s student body of 16,000 students. Each of the programs has had an enrollment of between 1 and 9 new freshman students each year over the past five years.

“We are committed to fully supporting students who are currently majoring in these programs to ensure they remain on a successful path to graduation,” said Suzanne Bousquet, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs. “We’re also going to continue to offer these programs as minors for students interested in these subject areas.”

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University is one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving more than 16,000 students. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers seven doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union, Toms River, Jefferson and Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.