UNC System approves van Noort’s plan to eliminate 4 UNCA academic departments

by ADDISON WRIGHT

The UNC System Board of Governors has approved UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort’s proposal to eliminate the university’s drama, philosophy, religion and ancient Mediterranean studies (classics) programs and to curtail languages and literature classes.

While the programs will be eliminated, classes in those areas will still be offered, van Noort repeatedly told the board’s Committee on Educational Planning, Policies and Programs before the board’s action.

“Of course, current students are upset,” van Noort told the committee, but she said she has worked individually with each of the students affected by her decision to “help them understand their options.”

The religious studies department will continue as a minor, and the recently hired Provost Yvonne Villanueva-Russsell will work with the affected departments and deans going forward.

In addition to hearing van Noort’s proposal, the committee had received a letter of dissent from 21 UNCA department chairs and three program directors.

The departments affected by the decision employ about 40 professors and enroll 78 students. Half of the professors and 29 of the students are in the languages and literature department.

“I hope we can do everything as a board to support you,” committee Secretary Sonja Phillips Nichols told van Noort before the board’s decision. “We’re going to have to do this on every single campus. This is a very hard but very necessary road that we are going to have to travel to manage the budgets on our campus.”

The unanimous decision came five months after van Noort announced that state law mandated that UNCA had until the end of June to eliminate what she described then as a $6 million budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year, projected to grow to $8 million deficit for the following fiscal year.

Van Noort’s plan to eliminate and curtail programs was not factored into the deficit reduction for the current 2025 fiscal year, which began in July, but would have an impact on fiscal year 2026 at the earliest, UNCA’s new vice chancellor for budget and finance told Asheville Watchdog.

The board’s decision also comes three weeks before the fall semester. Students in the affected departments have said they are unsure whether they should remain at UNCA.

“I guess I’m disappointed but not surprised,” said Ashlin Heise, a rising UNCA sophomore majoring in drama, in reaction to the decision. “I was in denial about it for a while because there was really no way to predict it.

“The worst way it affects me is that I’m faced with the decision of whether or not to leave. As much as I would love to move on to a better program, I love UNCA. I have so much going for me there and so many memories. I would lose two jobs that I love dearly and so many good friends.”

Ethan Colon, a senior philosophy major, criticized the decision.

“The direction that our legislature and our university’s ruling bodies are moving in is frightening for the prospects of the liberal arts,” Colon said. “I’m worried about what the future will look like for students interested in philosophy, languages, literature and other non-STEM or business fields. What does it say about UNCA that there is such disparity in the care allotted to STEM versus the humanities?”

The Watchdog reached out to several professors in the affected departments but did not hear back before publication.

Academic review began in 2022

The Board of Governors’ decision follows an academic portfolio review that began in December 2022. UNCA hired Charlotte-based First Tryon Advisors to identify programs for potential course reductions or program eliminations. As first reported by The Watchdog in June, First Tryon identified 14 academic programs for reduction or elimination.

Faculty criticized the agency’s methodology and analysis, and students majoring in the programs expressed their shock and anger. Van Noort said individual meetings with academic department chairs, associated deans and senior staff also informed her final decisions.

Van Noort and UNC System President Peter Hans received almost 1,500 letters asking them to reconsider eliminating the drama and philosophy departments.

Other actions have been taken to address the university’s budget deficit. In April, it dismissed 12 staffers, and it previously put adjunct professors on notice that their contracts would not be renewed for the next academic year.

Last week, UNCA announced plans to build a $4 million outdoor tennis facility on campus. The university said gifts from donors, corporate partners, alumni and grants would fund the project.

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Addison Wright is a 2024 graduate of UNCA, where she majored in mass communications and political science. She was news editor for The Blue Banner, UNCA’s school newspaper. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.