By: Danielle Roberts and Stella Tomeo
On Aug. 15, a select group of Milligan students opened their emails to find a message from the academic dean, Dr. Rich Aubrey, informing them the majors they enrolled in would be suspended by 2026.
Enrollment will be put on hold for computer science, cybersecurity, film, information systems, journalism and the Master of Arts in coaching and sports management. According to the university president, Dr. Stephen Waers, this decision is a reflection of overall enrollment trends for these majors.
Current students will be allowed to finish their degrees, but no students can enroll in these programs after this fall. Four of the faculty members’ contracts will not be renewed beyond the current academic year, and they will not continue teaching at Milligan.
“We are committed to allowing the students who are in these programs to complete them,” Waers said. This could mean hiring adjuncts, forming agreements to allow students to take classes at other universities, or modifying the spring 2026 semester to include as many relevant classes as possible.
“The purpose of this decision is to ensure that we are using our resources wisely,” said Aubrey. In under-enrolled programs, the small amount of students paying tuition is not enough to make up for the overseeing faculty’s salary. Suspending these programs will increase the ratio of students to faculty and reduce salary expenses.
But this decision is not solely due to enrollment shifts or challenges. The administration also had to look at the viability of these majors in the future.
“We look at the marketplace and what types of opportunities will be available for our grads. It’s a pretty complex equation,” said Aubrey.
Students and faculty in the affected programs are concerned about the decision’s impact.
“Suspended enrollment is going to diminish the quality of my education because the people who teach it and set it up are leaving,” said sophomore computer science and cybersecurity major Conner Morgan.
Professor of Cinema Kenny Suit points to broader concerns as well.
“Film is a hugely important aspect of American culture,” he said. “Many values are transmitted through film and television, as well as the visual medium. I think it’s important for students to study these things.”
Suit’s contract will not be renewed at the end of this academic year.
“There was a lot to talk about and a lot to think about,” he said. “What was so surprising about this was that the president and the dean preemptively and unilaterally made the decision to let go of these faculty before the faculty had any chance to do anything. And I think that was a bad decision.”
Waers, however, said that it was “not a unilateral decision” to suspend the programs.
“By giving advanced notice (one year before contracts are terminated) we allow faculty to then participate in the full hiring cycle for those jobs. And we’re supporting them however we can through references and things like that,” he said. “We were looking at trends for nine months before we made this decision.” The decision was made in coordination with the academic dean, associate deans and the board of trustees before talking to the faculty and staff about the decision, according to Waers.
“Nobody that I have spoken to is happy about this decision for any of these programs … but it seems like a necessity,” said Jim Dahlman, professor of communications and journalism and chair of the Performing, Visual and Communicative Arts Area.
When asked about the personal feelings on the decision, Aubrey said, “Decisions like this always come with some element of grief, because they will affect human beings. The good news is that we’re confident that we’ll be able to serve the students that have chosen these majors.”
Dr. Lonni Wilson, director of the Masters of Arts in coaching and sport management, declined to comment. The Stampede reached out to Professor Kelly Griffith, area chair and assistant professor of cybersecurity and computer science programs, but did not receive a reply before deadline.
Photo of framed moments from the Communications Dept. in the past with students working on various projects (photo credit: Danielle Roberts)
