Story By: Walker Payne

MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Amidst financial strain, the University of Montevallo’s Board of Trustees will meet on Friday to vote on potential program closures.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Merrill Room in Reynolds Hall from 9 to 11 a.m.

The vote comes following an announcement in December saying the university would begin assessing a number of minors and concentrations to consider their viability.

After the administration identified which minors would be reviewed, representatives of each program were given the opportunity to submit a rebuttal with plans for continued sustainability.

According to an email from Faculty Senate President Dr. Alex Beringer, the following programs submitted rebuttals:

  • Professional Writing
  • Game Studies & Design
  • Philosophy
  • African American Studies
  • Retail Merchandising
  • FCS Education
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Sports Business
  • Music Performance

Rebuttal plans include a variety of aspects like alumni testimonials, enrollment trends, cost reduction proposals, or potential curricular changes, Dr. Beringer explained.

While all programs proposed for a closure vote were given the opportunity to respond, some chose not to submit an individual appeal, including:

  • Economics
  • Non-profit Studies
  • Human Resources
  • Management Information Systems
  • Financial Sales
  • Latin American Studies

Program closure responses went through the UCSC, the independent Priority Action Team 3, and the offices of Academic Affairs before reaching the University President to decide what would be brought in for the Board of Trustees vote on Friday.

According to Dr. Beringer, programs at risk of closure drew on a variety of measures to craft their individual rebuttals.

It’s important for people in Alabama and nationwide to understand the value of our Public Liberal Arts mission.
-Dr. Alex Beringer, Faculty Senate President

However, the most important factor, he says, was for the programs to exhibit how they could be run at a “minimal additional cost to the university.”

“Right now, we’re waiting to see what appears on the agenda for the Board of Trustees meeting,” Beringer said. “Any programs that do not appear on the agenda will not be subject to closure during this session.”

While there is no way of being certain, Dr. Beringer says that the Faculty Senate does expect to see, at least, a few programs make successful rebuttals.

With the Board of Trustees meeting quickly approaching, some programs are still in the process of deciding on and potentially approaching their own appeals process.

Programs yet to decide include:

  • Sales Management
  • Digital Marketing
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Peace and Justice Studies

Ahead of the vote on Friday, there will be a committee meeting to discuss the details of the program rebuttals and which programs have been recommended to be preserved.

Both Thursday and Friday meetings are open to the public. Those that cannot attend in person can join either meeting via Microsoft Teams.

Beringer says that the best thing students can do right now is advocate for the University of Montevallo as a whole.

“It’s important for people in Alabama and nationwide to understand the value of our Public Liberal Arts mission,” he said. “Like many small schools, our programs rely heavily on the support and goodwill of donors, alumni, legislators, and other stakeholders. Student voices carry a lot of weight in motivating these people and institutions to act.”

Beringer also says this first round of cuts will be followed by a separate review of all majors on campus later this semester.