NCCU conducting a top-to-bottom review of its academic programs

N.C. Central University has undertaken a massive review of all its academic programs that could result in the merger, realignment or even elimination of some programs.

“Make no mistake about it, this [review] will impact all the work we do here,” Chancellor Charlie Nelms told the school’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday. “We are trying to determine exactly through this who are we? What are the things we do well and the things we do not do well? We realize we cannot be all things to all people.”

NCCU Provost Debbie Thomas emphasized that the effort would not “eliminate or compromise the educational core” of the university and instead would “insure its academic integrity.”

The program review was undoubtedly spurred by recent state budget funding cuts and by a just-issued UNC system report that looked into potential unnecessary degree duplication across the campuses. That report failed to find any unnecessary duplications but recommended that campuses fit new programs within the mold of their missions and use online courses to cut costs.

The provost said, the university is examining, among much else, retention and graduation rates, credit hours generated, numbers of full and part-time faculty, fiscal viability and the capacity to sustain and grow a program.

“This is and will be a very thorough process,” Thomas said.

That process ultimately will result in programs either being restructured, merged, realigned, reinvested or eliminated, she said.

The university’s academic review council will look at the results of the audit some time this month and will report and make recommendations to the chancellor by the end of the year.

Nelms is expected to bring his recommendations to the trustees early next year.

“This is not just an exercise. We are at a most critical juncture in the history of this university,” Nelms told the trustees.

“The next 6-10 months will really determine what will happen to N.C. Central University over the next decade.”