Averett University dropping some degree programs

DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) - Averett University in Danville is making some changes to move toward what it says students want and to “build upon our strengths in applied liberal arts.”

The university says its bachelor’s degree programs in Art, Chemistry, Math, Modern Languages and Religion, as well as a master’s degree program in Criminal Justice, will not accept new students for enrollment after the 2024-2025 academic year, but “Current students in these impacted majors will still complete the degree for which they came to Averett.”

The university says, “This process has resulted in a more focused structure for academic programs in the future, including reducing or combining a handful of academic programs that either have no or low enrollment.”

The move comes in the wake of more than half the university’s staff taking a temporary pay cut last summer after an employee mismanaged millions of dollars in the university’s budget.

A news release also says the university has been exploring a “new, unified direction for our Music and Theatre academic programs. A combined performing arts major is currently under development to continue offering foundations of the arts as part of Averett’s liberal arts general education program, and pathways for students interested in musical theatre, vocal music and more.”