The Southeast Missouri State Board of Regents approved today the addition, streamlining and deletion of several academic programs for the University.

The first area of program updates approved by the board was the addition of one new degree program and two new certificates. The College of Education, Health and Human Studies will house the new program additions:

• Master of Science in Applied Nutrition
• Post Masters Certificate for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post Masters Certificate for Nurse Educator

The programs will be reviewed by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD and be presented to the Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) for state approval in the next few months. Southeast will begin admitting students upon approval from CBHE with the program expected to launch in fall 2021.

Southeasts Department of Nursing secured $93,351 in funding through the Missouri State Board of Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP) to help develop and launch the certificates. The grants will help cover the costs of instruction, stipends, curriculum development and technology enhancements.

There is an immediate need for the skills and knowledge developed in these programs, said Southeast Provost Dr. Mike Godard. We are excited to provide these new offerings to our students and help meet the needs of healthcare providers in Missouri and throughout the region.

In addition to approving new programs, the Board approved recommendations that were the result the Universitys recent Academic Prioritization Review. Led by Godard, the review process started in late spring of 2019.

The review consisted of a comprehensive andcollaborative process that included independent recommendations from academic department curriculum committees, department chairpersons, college level curriculumcouncils, academic deans, faculty senate, Provost Godard,and President Carlos Vargas; with the Board of Regents approving the recommendations for changes to academic majors, options, certificatesand/orminors.

Implementing these changes will allow Southeast to align more strategically with industry and employer needs, be more nimble to adjust to changing student demands and enhance offerings in areas of strength, said Godard. Im very appreciative of the thoughtful, collaborative and data-based approach that was taken by all the faculty involved. While there were some difficult decisions, there was a lot of agreement on how we can be more efficient and better serve our students moving forward.

Every year Southeast reviews 20-25 percent of its programs. The Academic Prioritization Review was a comprehensive and strategic review of all programs at once. The results were:

• 11 programs and one graduate certificate will be streamlined by reducing the number of low enrolled options within those programs;
• 4 programs that are being deleted have similarly aligned programs that will continue to be offered;
• 2 undergraduate certificates are being deleted due to an extremely low number of students enrolled and completing;
• 6 degrees are being deleted due to the long-term trend of low completers;
• 27 minors will be removed due to low student interest and duplication of similar offerings.

Additionally, three degrees in Unified Science were eliminated because the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) no longer offers those programs. Any undergraduate program that was streamlined or removed had annual enrollments of less than 10, and any graduate program had annual enrollments of less than five.

There will be a two year teach-out program for all students impacted. This will allow students to graduate in the existing program or switch to another program.