Youngstown State University is cutting about 25 programs from Medical Lab Technology at the Associate's Level - to Manufacturing Engineering at the Bachelor's Level to Art Education at the Master's Level.

These are just some of the programs that will be axed after current students complete their courses.

Associate's Level:

  • Electric Utility Technology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Dietetic Technician
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Medical Assisting Technology
  • Drafting and Design Technology
  • Social Services Technology

Bachelor's Level:

  • Gerontology
  • Italian Education
  • Italian
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Religious Studies
  • Music Theory
  • Music History and Literature
  • Family and Consumer Studies
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Dance Management
  • French
  • Art History

Masters Level:

  • Music History and Literature
  • Art Education
  • American Studies
  • Interdisciplinary Visual Arts
  • Gerontology
  • Creative Writing

The University will move most of the faculty involved in those programs into other places, but there will also be some layoffs.

Provost Brien Smith says less than 20 faculty members will be cut although they will have the opportunity to contest the layoffs.

In that case, YSU-OEA Union tells me the options would be a buyout, lay off or switching departments.

The YSU Union questioned the administration's priorities in a statement on Monday, saying they've neglected academics in favor of other areas.

Provost Smith says in response:

"So absurd. Not a secret that there are demographic declines in the number of students in the Midwest. This has affected all 14 Ohio public institutions, except Ohio State and Cincinnati. All the rest have lost a significant number of students. Enrollment this year makes it the lowest since 1967. So it's not true that this deficit is manufactured because students are the largest part of our revenue."

In the past five years, there has been a decline in enrollment. The number of students enrolled went from 12,644 students in 2017 to 11,298 in 2021.

Here is a look at YSU's enrollment over the last five years:

  • 2017 – 12,644
  • 2018 – 12,696
  • 2019 – 12,155
  • 2020 – 11,788
  • 2021 – 11,298

The University says the restructuring plan will also include increasing class sizes to absorb some of the losses.

Provost Brien Smith adds in part: "...the numbers associated with any layoffs will not be significant, but that's the challenge in the coming years, it's going to affect more people if they can't find ways to save money."