At this week’s Senate meeting, four Queen’s University programs are facing the possibility of a temporary suspension to admissions.
Notices of temporary suspension of admissions to the Bachelor of Liberal Studies program, Hispanic studies, German studies, and the graduate diploma in business (GAB) made its way onto the Feb. 1 Senate agenda.
Liberal studies is currently offered by the department of history, and is an online only degree run through Arts and Science Online (ASO), which Queen’s announced the closure of on Dec. 18. The reason for suspending admissions included low enrolment and difficulty staffing core courses, according to the suspension notice.
The history department admits the liberal studies has seen slow growth since its inception in 2016. According to a University notice, the department recommended suspending the program effective winter 2024 for two years while they weight redevelopment or closure.
READ MORE: Queen’s shutters admissions to online ArtSci degrees and certificates
In 2018, the average number of students admitted into the liberal studies program has hovered around 22, with only 28 major and one minor student graduating since 2016. As of the winter term of 2023, only 58 liberal studies students were active in the program.
Moving to the department of languages, literatures, and cultures, (LLCU), the major and joint honours in Hispanic studies, and joint honours in German studies, are both facing admissions suspensions.
“These [programs] have faced growing challenges, including declining enrolments and a reduced faculty complement,” the department wrote in the notice.
With the suspension of the major and joint honours in Hispanic studies, and joint honours in German studies, the department hopes to focus resources to support the LLCU major and the minors in Hispanic studies and German studies.
Hispanic studies major and joint honours saw two students enrolled each in 2023, while German studies only had one student enrolled. At its peak in 2014, the Hispanic studies joint honours had 14 students, and the major had seven students. The German studies joint honours had three enrolled students in 2014.
Current students will be minimally affected, according to the notice. Upper-level Spanish and German courses will continue to be offered while they’re cross-listed with LLCU course equivalents. These courses have lectures and discussions in English, with students completing coursework in their respective languages.
Only two tenure-stream faculty members teach courses in the German studies program, while one tenured faculty and one continuing adjunct faculty member teach courses in Hispanic studies.
Another program facing low enrollment is the GAB, which is a four-month program for university graduates with limited business education.
In a notice signed by Vice-Provost and Dean (School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs) Fahim Quadir and Smith School of Business Dean Wanda Costen recommended the suspension of the program due to declining enrollment and a careful financial analysis.
“Smith will leverage the two-year extension to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program, aiming to strategically plan its future. This includes exploring alternatives or the potential introduction of a new program,” the notice read.
Tags
ASO, budget cuts, German studies, Hispanic studies, Liberal studies, LLCU
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Pam Fullerton
Where did the 100 million go?
Linda Hecker
It is reassuring to observe educational institutions trying to prepare their students to acquire education in fields where there are possible connections academically. It is a great ideal to study a preferred area of expertise but let’s use a reality check in choosing courses that will insure employment.