Photo by: Samuel Cho
Dance, visual communication, Spanish and chemistry will no longer be offered as majors to incoming AU students. Current students can continue and graduate with these respective majors, as stated by the official announcements made by both the deans of the departments and later by President Pistole Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The changes include the workforce reductions across the university.
In Pistole’s official email announcement to students, the reasoning behind these changes have been because the university has “encountered significant pressures that require us to make tough decisions” but are “to ensure that we can continue providing high-quality education and take steps to improve your student experience.”
The email also detailed other changes beginning Spring 2025 with some weekly chapels being moved to York Performance Hall under what was referred to as “student delight” projects and investing into facilities using the reallocated funds. This will be part of an 18-month strategy that will innovate and improve student experience, Pistole said.
As these changes are set into motion, the deans of the department affected by the reduction – Deborah Miller Fox (College of Humanities, Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences), Lonnie Leeper (College of Business, Engineering, Sciences, and Technology) and Nathan Willowby (College of Christian Ministry, and Music, Theatre, & Dance) – have opened their offices for their students to ask questions, present feedback and concerns and foster communication between the administration and the student body.