The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted to eliminate four programs at the Lincoln Campus during its meeting Friday.
The university cut programs including educational administration, earth and atmospheric sciences, statistics, and textiles, merchandising, and fashion design.
Officials of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said the changes will save $6,740,000 and are part of a $27.5 million budget reduction.
More than 100 people spoke against the cuts in public comment, which lasted five hours. All eight regents and one student regent voted to eliminate educational administration. Barbara Weitz, joined by three student regents, was the lone vote against cutting the other three programs.
Speakers raised various concerns about the proposed elimination, including their impact on the state, other departments on campus, and issues with the overall budget reduction process. Several said faculty data was used to judge their program. Others spoke about the cuts' potential impact on the workforce and future of students attending the university.
The board also voted to merge two sets of departments: entomology with plant pathology and agricultural leadership, education, and communication with agricultural economics.
