{"id":224541,"date":"2026-03-20T14:15:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/?p=224541"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T18:40:00","slug":"university-north-texas-deficit-program-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/03\/20\/university-north-texas-deficit-program-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"University of North Texas to cut more than 70 programs and minors to trim $45 million deficit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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University of North Texas President Harrison Keller offered new details this week after announcing plans to cut or consolidate more than 70 academic programs, minors and certificates as it works to close a projected $45 million budget shortfall driven by a sharp decline in international enrollment and reduced state funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We weren’t directed to eliminate programs by any state official,” Keller said in a March 24 interview with The Texas Tribune about a plan that includes phasing out its linguistics degrees,<\/strong> eliminating a women\u2019s and gender studies master\u2019s program and cutting a bachelor’s degree in Latino and Latin American Studies, along with 25 undergraduate minors and more than 40 certificate programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minors being eliminated<\/a> include women\u2019s and gender studies, LGBTQ studies, Mexican American studies, Africana studies, Asian studies as well as dance, geology and special education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cuts come amid a broader political climate in which Texas public universities have faced pressure from state Republican leaders and conservative activists to limit teaching about gender, race and sexuality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last fall, the UNT System, like other public university systems in the state, ordered a review<\/a> of its courses. Some university systems said the reviews were meant to ensure compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump, a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott and House Bill 229, all of which recognize only two sexes, male and female, though none explicitly bans teaching gender-related topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNT System did not cite a specific law when it ordered its review. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keller said that review is separate from the decision to cut areas of study and expected to be complete by April 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Texas A&M eliminated<\/a> its women\u2019s and gender studies program, while the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio moved to consolidate<\/a> programs focused on race, gender and ethnicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keller and Provost Michael <\/strong>McPherson said in a March 19 message<\/a> <\/strong>to the campus community that <\/strong>the decisions followed a \u201ccareful review.\u201d They said the linguistics department has seen declining enrollment since 2021, along with higher instructional costs and lower \u201ctime to value,\u201d and that the merger with the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures will take effect Sept. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They said the master\u2019s programs being cut enrolled an average of 15 or fewer students over the past five years, while the undergraduate minors had 20 or fewer students since 2021 and certificate programs had fewer than two students per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students enrolled in affected programs will be able to complete their degrees, but new students will no longer be admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must adapt to meet the changing needs of our students, employers and communities across Texas and beyond, especially by providing degree and credential pathways that translate into opportunities beyond graduation,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Salmon, chair of the linguistics department, told the Tribune that faculty learned of the decision shortly before every else did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we weren\u2019t consulted on the matter at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salmon declined to elaborate further, saying he was focused on supporting students and faculty and \u201canswering the many questions coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University officials did not immediately respond to detailed questions last week, but Keller said this week that the changes are expected to save the university \u201ca few million dollars\u201d over the next several years, though the exact amount remains unclear. He said the university uses \u201ctime to value\u201d to measure how long it takes graduates to recoup the cost of their degrees, factoring in tuition, lost wages while enrolled and typical earnings after graduation, and that officials aim for programs to reach that point in less than 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, UNT offered buyouts to faculty with at least 15 years of service. Tenured faculty could receive a payout equal to one year of salary, while some non-tenure-track faculty on multiyear contracts could receive half a year’s salary to leave early. About 30 faculty members have applied ahead of the the April 10 deadline, Keller said, and no faculty have been laid off, though some adjunct instructors may not be rehired if their courses were eliminated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNT is also planning to move more lectures online in response to the budget shortfall<\/a>. Beginning this fall, more than 40 courses will shift to a model where lectures are delivered online and students attend weekly in-person sessions in smaller groups focused on discussion and problem-solving. Keller said the hybrid courses will include an additional $35 per credit hour fee, capped at $315 per semester, to cover technology costs, and described the model as a way to serve more students without making more hires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not yet clear the total number of students enrolled in the affected programs or how long required courses will continue to be offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace Youngberg, a third-year linguistics major, said she was shocked and felt \u201cdisrespected\u201d by the decision and lack of prior notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had planned to attend graduate school at UNT and pursue a career in forensic linguistics, applying language analysis in legal settings to help people better understand and communicate in court proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, she said, she may have to look elsewhere to continue her studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youngberg also questioned the university\u2019s emphasis on \u201ctime to value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPutting a monetary value on education to begin with is closed-minded,\u201d she said, adding that there is a need for linguists even if the field is not the highest paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 47,000 students attend the Denton university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure: University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at San Antonio have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here<\/a>.<\/em>
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