LINCOLN— The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will consider eliminating nine low-enrollment degree and certificate programs across UNL, UNMC, UNK, and UNO. The proposed cuts include programs in ethnic studies, insect science, medical nutrition, infectious disease epidemiology, exercise science, long-term care management, business analytics, industrial and organizational psychology, and urban studies. Unlike previous program cuts, the eliminations would produce little direct financial savings, with only UNO projecting savings of about $42,000.

The proposals come as the NU system faces approximately $29 million in budget cuts following Gov. Jim Pillen’s directive to withhold at least 5% of monthly allocations to state-funded entities. University officials say eliminating low-enrollment programs can still free faculty and staff to focus on higher-demand programs, research and student services. At the same meeting, regents will review NU’s request for a 4.25% increase in state funding in each of the next two years, though Nebraska’s growing budget deficit could make securing the additional funding difficult.

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