3.4.2 Procedure for the Decommissioning of Curricular Programs

(01/28/2019)
This policy sets forth procedures in the eventual occurrence of circumstances that call for the decommissioning of curricular programs—majors, minors, or concentrations—at Kenyon College. The need for programmatic suspension might arise from resource constraints, sustained low enrollment within the program, non-viable staffing, or curricular evolution. In any case that it is determined that an academic program may need to be decommissioned, the following procedures should be followed. For the case of financial hardship, see Section 2.3.15.

1. The Provost of the College should bring a proposal for review of a standing program to the Senior Staff and the Executive Committee of the Faculty. This proposal will call for an immediate review of the program in question. This proposal should provide a rationale for this review and a summary of the curricular impact on related departments or programs. In addition, the proposal should include a provisional plan for how current academic and support personnel may be reassigned should a program be decommissioned. All proposals for faculty lines directed to this program will be suspended until the completion of the review process.
2. The Resource Allocation and Assessment Subcommittee and the Curricular Policy Committee will receive from the Registrar and the Provost’s office the following information regarding the current state and history of the program in question over the past ten years:
   1. Enrollment
   2. Majors/minors
   3. FTE hires, retirements, departures
   4. Budget lines and possible endowment funds
   5. Past external reviews and assessment reports
3. Current program faculty and/or closely-aligned faculty will be provided with a copy of the proposal and the data collected above. They will be given 60 days to write responses for consideration by RAAS and CPC.
4. Members of CPC will review the proposal and data and consider the program’s curricular significance and its relationship to the institutional mission and other curricular and co-curricular programs within the college. RAAS members will review the proposal and data with regard to competing demands for resources and the needs of the college. Committees may solicit additional information from related departments, programs, or offices.
5. The reviewing committees will together submit a report with a recommendation to the Faculty of the college at a regular faculty meeting for discussion. Following debate and discussion, the Provost will make a final decision regarding the decommissioning of the program.

Timeline

The review for the decommissioning of a program may take up to one year, and the actions needed to complete the process may take up to two academic years. For the suspension of a minor in an established department, the process may be streamlined. In addition, if there are students who are still enrolled in the department or program, provisions should be made to allow them to complete their academic work. Students should be advised of the possibility that the program may be decommissioned. No student may declare a major, minor, or concentration in the program during this review process.