Indiana University of Pennsylvania to Shut Down Programs

Indiana University of Pennsylvania will close five fine arts programs as it restructures during a decade of declining enrollment and an expected $16 million budget shortfall, Trib Total Media reported.

IUP will close enrollment in theatre-musical theatre, interdisciplinary fine arts-dance arts, the master of fine arts in art, master of art-art education and art studio in fall 2021, IUP President Michael Driscoll announced. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their studies in their program.

IUP is consolidating 14 different programs that now lead to the Bachelor of Science in education degree and expanding the professional education sequence to allow teacher certification as an option in those majors,” Trib Total Media reported.

Students from the IUP College of Fine Arts protested Tuesday with a “silent concert” against the anticipated program cuts.

With the restructuring, IUP plans to prioritize fields such as STEM, allied health disciplines, behavioral health and business to meet student and workforce demands.