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FLINT, MI - Flint-based Kettering University is ending five of its 13 majors as part of an effort to refocus on its more popular engineering programs, according to a letter from university President Robert McMahan.

Kettering is sunsetting its applied math, applied biology, applied physics, biochemistry and chemistry programs, meaning it will accept no new majors in those fields after fall 2021, according to the letter.

There are 77 current students majoring in these programs, including 47 seniors. The university will still offer these students the needed classes to complete their degree and will give them individualized pathways to graduation, according to the letter.

Engineering fields and computer science, which make up six of the universitys 13 majors, contribute half of the universitys annually awarded credit hours, with another 40% coming from service courses for those majors, according to the letter. The seven remaining majors only contribute 6% of the credit hours but require one-third of the universitys instructional resources.

McMahan decided the changes based on the mid-2020 findings of a task force that sought to identify consistently underperforming programs and enhance programs that have greater market demand, according to the letter. He decided to delay implementing the changes until it looked like the country was beginning to emerge from the pandemic.

I did this out of a desire to not add additional stress on you or our community as we were adapting to the Covid-19 crisis, including pivoting immediately to entirely new modes of virtual services delivery in every unit across the University, McMahan said in the letter. We, like the rest of higher education, will not be going back to the way it was before. It is therefore incumbent upon us to think creatively and plan carefully for our future.

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Link:

Kettering University will end 5 programs, focus on engineering - MLive.com