The University of Iowa is conducting a review of low-enrollment undergraduate majors to ensure that they align with student demand, workforce needs, and the university's educational mission.

The review follows a recommendation in the Iowa Board of Regents' 2025 Workforce Alignment Review of Programs Report, which identified undergraduate majors across regent universities with fewer than 25 students and called for further evaluation of those programs.

Led by the Office of the Provost, the review will use the most recent data to examine enrollment history and trends for the undergraduate programs identified in the report. In addition to enrollment, the university will consider factors such as licensure or accreditation requirements, the program's role in supporting other areas of study, available faculty resources, and how recently a program was established.

"This is the right time to take a careful look at these programs," says Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost. "We are seeing record levels of student interest at Iowa, and it's important that we use our administrative and instructional resources where they will have the greatest impact."

Based on the findings of the review, the university will recommend the closure of programs that do not demonstrate long-term viability or sufficient student demand. Any proposed changes will follow Iowa Board of Regents policy and require board approval. Following the review of undergraduate programs identified in the workforce alignment report, the Office of the Provost will continue working with collegiate and campus partners to assess other lower-enrollment programs as part of its ongoing evaluation process.

Regular, student-focused program planning

The university regularly reviews its academic offerings to ensure that they reflect student interests and evolving workforce needs. Since 2015, the Board of Regents has approved the closure of 37 UI programs, often as part of reorganization efforts intended to improve academic alignment and efficiency.

Identifying opportunities to align programming with student demand helps the university strengthen the student experience and focus resources on academic areas with growing interest and clearer pathways to career opportunities.

"Academic programs evolve over time, and this process helps make sure they are keeping pace with student interest," says Kregel. "By regularly assessing our offerings, we can better support students' goals and the academic areas where they are choosing to invest their time."