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Textiles & Consumer Sciences  > Undergraduate Program  > Guidelines For Closures Of Majors 

Guidelines for Closures of Majors

Issues Related to Students Currently Enrolled in
Programs Which Might Be Eliminated Under the Budget Reductions

The elimination of programs, majors, or departments impacts students in numerous ways. The issues are not only specific to the affected units, but the decisions impact other units as well. For example, departments offering service courses for the impacted units now face a different staffing model as they cope with a new demand situation. This is just one case among many that must be considered as decisions are made to meet the budget reductions.

Under SACS guidelines, when closing a program,” the institution must make a good faith effort to assist affected students, faculty, administrative and support staff so that they experience a minimal amount of disruption in the pursuit of their course of study or profession careers.” Specifically, the institution should make every effort to teach out currently enrolled students and to discontinue admission of students to the program once the decision is made to terminate the program.

In the following sections, guiding principles for undergraduate and graduate programs are set forth in an attempt to answer many questions and offer recommendations about the significant student issues which arise. Every effort is made to formulate the recommendations in such a manner as to have minimal impact on students while at the same time to maintain the integrity of the Florida State University degree. A set of FAQs is also listed for undergraduate programs that might be affected.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

  • Prospective students with active applications awaiting admission decisions to an affected program:
    • Immediately suspend admission of new students and encourage students to seek alternative majors.
  • Students currently enrolled in Undergraduate Studies or in an upper division college but showing a “Not Formally Admitted” major code:
    • Immediately suspend certification into upper-division major and require students to select a different major.
    • Major changes into a program or major will be suspended immediately upon the announcement of the decision to terminate the program.
  • Students currently enrolled and admitted into the major at the upper division level:
    • Programs are encouraged to be understanding and flexible.
    • Programs should place high priority on enabling students to complete their degree programs.
    • Course offerings will continue for at most two academic years after the program has been officially suspended.
    • Depending on the circumstances, there may be minimal course offerings in the summer(s).
    • Students are advised to have ongoing contact with their academic advisors during this time to ensure that their academic plan is current and consistent with the projected course offerings.


Frequently Asked Questions (Undergraduate)

1. Q. What about the student’s MAP? Is there any flexibility?

A. Students being re-directed from a major that has been suspended will have their Mapping Term set to 1 regardless of their current Map Term if changing into a non-limited access major. Re-directed students wishing to change into a limited-access major must meet the milestones of their current Map Term less one in the limited-access major. Students not meeting those milestones are encouraged to appeal for a Map Term reset from the dean of the college offering the major.

2. Q. What about a student in a continuing major who is currently required to take coursework in an eliminated major or program or department?

A. Coursework will be offered for at most two academic years following the termination date of the major. Departments will be encouraged to reserve seats for the majors requiring the courses. Students in the continuing major should work closely with their advisor who will be knowledgeable about the projected course offerings of the terminated major or program. Also, departments that are continuing should be flexible in identifying course substitutes for their students when courses are required from terminated units.

3. Q. Is there any flexibility in the last thirty hour residency requirement?

A. The current policy allows for six of the last thirty hours to be taken out of residence with the approval of the Academic Dean. There is no change in the policy or procedure. In cases of extreme hardship, appeals for additional hours to be taken out of residence may be made to the Academic Dean, who in turn must make a recommendation to the Dean of the Faculties.

4. Q. Is there any flexibility in the major course requirements?

A. The current policy provides that chairs and/or academic deans may make course substitutions provided university policy is not violated. There is no change in the policy or procedure. Departments are encouraged to identify course substitutes in hardship cases.

5. Q. Many programs require internships, some in the summer. Is there any flexibility in this requirement?

A. The current policy provides that chairs and /or academic deans may make course substitutions provided university policy is not violated. However, some internships may be required for acquisition of the appropriate license in the field and/or for accreditation purposes. In these cases, there is no flexibility in the requirements.

6. Q. If a student makes an unsatisfactory grade in a required course and the course will not be offered again, what provisions will be made for the student?

A. The student should work with his/her department chair and/or academic dean to arrive at a reasonable substitution.

7. Q. If a student has a grade of “I” on his record, how will the course be completed?

A. Students should complete the work for removal of the “I” during the first semester following the announcement that the major will be terminated. If the faculty member who awarded the incomplete grade is no longer employed, the student should work with the appropriate departmental personnel to devise an alternative solution. Faculty should refrain from awarding incomplete grades once the program is in the termination phase.

8. Q. Is a part-time student under the same time constraint to finish his/her degree?

A. Yes, a part-time student must plan his/her program to finish in the same allowable time frame as the fulltime student.

9. Q. There may be cases, in unusual circumstances, in which a student is unable to finish his/her degree in the allowable time frame. How will these situations be handled?

. A. A student finding himself/herself in this situation should consult with departmental personnel to ascertain if there is any manner in which the degree program can be completed. The University, however, is under no obligation to ensure the program can be completed after the allowable period.

10. Q. There may be a student in Undergraduate Studies who feels he/she can complete the major even though he/she has not yet been certified to upper division. Will the student be allowed to matriculate to upper division?

A. No. A student in Undergraduate Studies under these circumstances will not be certified to upper division and must select a new major.

11. Q. If a student in Undergraduate Studies is required to change his/her major, will he/she be required to complete the state mandated prerequisites of the new major? Will he/she be required to complete any additional prerequisites of the new major or program?

A. Yes, under state regulations, the state mandated prerequisites must be completed. Also, the additional major or program perquisites must be completed as well.

12. Q. A student is not currently enrolled but applies for readmission to a program which is to be terminated. How is the readmission application handled?

A. Readmission will not be granted to the major or program to be terminated. The student should work with the advising staff and admissions staff for recommended alternatives.

13. Q. It is highly likely that additional adjuncts will be employed in order to complete the second year of course offerings in terminated programs. Is there any flexibility in staff credentialing during this period?

A. It is important that SACS guidelines be followed. The SACS liaison in Academic Affairs will work closely with academic units to interpret the guidelines and ensure that the process is coordinated in an efficient manner.

14. Q. Sixty hours of senior institution hours are currently required for graduation. Can any of these hours be waived?

A. There is currently in place a procedure for petitioning for a waiver of this requirement. Waivers are granted only in extreme hardship situations.

15. Q. Forty hours of 3000/4000 level coursework are currently required for graduation. Can any of these hours be waived?

A. There is currently in place a procedure for petitioning for a waiver of this requirement. Waivers are granted only in extreme hardship situations.

16. Q. Can more than fifteen hours of special student work be counted toward degree requirements?

A. Exceptions to the current policy of fifteen hours are rarely made. In extreme hardship situations resulting from the termination of a major or program, a student may petition for a wavier of the policy.