Cuyahoga Community College is ending 30 associate degree programs as part of requirements under Senate Bill 1, Ohio’s new higher education law.
The cuts are being made across the college, including in Tri-C’s business, advanced manufacturing, and creative arts departments, college officials told Signal Tuesday evening.
About half of the programs ending are apprenticeship programs, meaning students get paid, hands-on work experience while in school. The college will wind down its carpentry technology, ironworking technology, and drywall finishing technology degrees, among others.
No new students will be able to start these offerings after this semester, but those currently enrolled will be able to finish. Officials also pointed out the college offers some related certificate programs where students can study similar subjects and earn a credential in a shorter time.
There are no plans for employee layoffs as a result of these closures, officials said.
Senate Bill 1 calls for many changes to Ohio’s public colleges and universities, including mandating axing academic programs that graduate five or fewer students annually over any three-year span. It also includes making faculty publicly share their class syllabi as well as demanding schools end all diversity, equity and inclusion (or DEI) work.
Public colleges must tell the state department of higher education what programs are ending by Sept. 25.
Tri-C to cut programs in information technology, manufacturing technology
Tri-C already “historically sunset programs with low enrollment and graduation rates as needed with minimal impact to students, faculty and staff,” college officials wrote in the statement to Signal.
Having that process already in place made it easier to adhere to the new rules outlined in Senate Bill 1, they said.
Read the full list of planned cuts below (AAB is an associate of applied business degree, while AAS is an associate of applied science degree):
School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Computer Science
- AAB – Information Technology – Programming and Development with a Concentration in Quality Assurance
- AAB – Information Technology – Business Solutions
- AAS – Sheet Metal Working Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Manufacturing Industrial Engineering Technology
- AAS – Carpentry Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Ironworking Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Drywall Finishing Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Construction Tending and Hazardous Material Abatement Technology
- AAS – Millwrighting Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Cement Masonry Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Floorlaying Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Plumbing Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Pipefitting Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Painting Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Operating Engineering Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Manufacturing Technology (Apprenticeship)
- AAS – Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology with a Concentration in Digital Communications
School of Business, Legal Professions and Hospitality
- AAB – Business Management – International Business
- AAS – Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Corrections
- AAS – Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Security Administration
- AAB – Captioning and Court Reporting
- AAB – Captioning and Court Reporting with a Concentration in Voice Writing
- AAB – Hospitality Management with a Concentration in Restaurant/Food Service Management
School of Creative Arts
- AAB – Visual Communication and Design with a Concentration in Web and Interactive Media
School of Nursing and Health Professions
- AAS – Electroneurodiagnostic Technology with a Concentration in Polysomnography (Program will close and merge with the AAS – Electroneurodiagnostic Technology)
- AAS – Emergency Medical Technology
- AAS – Medical Assisting
- AAS – Massage Therapy