ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Students at South Carolina State met with faculty to discuss the potential elimination of majors on Thursday. The students wanted to get a better understanding of reason behind a new proposal.
Some of the majors which could be eliminated under a new proposal include History, Art Education, Social Studies, Professional Land Surveying, Special Education and Dramatic Arts.
In statement from the university, officials said the degree program review is based on requirements from the state's Commission on Higher Education to ensure the best use of resources. It goes on to say if the programs are deleted, students who are currently enrolled in those programs will be able to continue working towards graduating with that degree.
Taliyah Taylor is the activities manager for the South Carolina Education Association on campus. She was a part of a silent protest at South Carolina State University’s Board of Trustees meeting. on Wednesday.
“We had some concerns, and we were able to get their attention. We were able to get a meeting with them, and we were able to sit down with them get all of our answers,” Taylor said. “We were able to get answers as to why those programs were being cut. It was really because of enrollment in the past couple of years. State has been in the rebuilding phase.”
Ketuan Hicks is a junior at South Carolina State University, who says the student silent protest on Wednesday was necessary.
“To me I think the statement was representation,” said Hicks. “And to me that personally means coming from Virginia where my first black educator I didn’t have until my high school years so I think it’s just very important to have representation in every aspect of education.”
Hicks says he understands why these conversations are taking place.
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“I think to be honest that fair, you know, it’s a supply and demand kind of thing. You can’t pay teachers if no one is taking those courses per se," Hicks said. "However, I think a counter to that could just be different types of incentives. Different types of programs, different types of really methods to bring students to that focus area of a major. So, whether that be just different buildings, scholarships, tuitions, just something to bring more of a focus to that specific program.”
No decision has been made as yet as to which programs at the university will be eliminated.