IUSB students and faculty address consolidation and elimination of degrees
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- IUSB students and faculty gathered on campus Wednesday for a "Teach-in", where both could address their priorities and concerns for the greater IU community.
Topics ranged from IU's ICE policies to the use of AI on campus and its integration into the student curriculum.
One prominent point was the discussion of federal and state legislation, and its impact on public universities.
House Enrolled Act 1001, which took effect July 1st of 2025, began the process of consolidating, merging and eliminating degree programs that don't feature a high number of students or graduates.
That bill, which follows similar guidance by the Trump administration, was put in place to address the fiscal aspect of having a large number of degrees, and to help streamline the education process for students.
IU Today reports that only 4% of students across their campuses were enrolled in affected degree programs, and .6% were in programs that closed entirely.
Jake Mattox, President of the American Association of University Professors, and Associate Professor of English at IUSB, hosted the event.
He worries that legislation from both levels of government is "eating away" at university independence.
"The consolidation of degrees is a problem, and it does damage IU's reputation." Said Mattox.
Students ABC57 spoke with said they haven't had enough transparency about the issue from administration.
"Students are very scared about this. They don't know what's going on, they don't understand the rubric going into it; everyone just thinks their major is going to get eliminated." Said Senior and Student Body President, Jesuri Vazquez-Garcia.
ABC57 reached out to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education but they were unavailable for an interview. Our team also reached out to IU administration officials in Bloomington, but we're also denied an interview.