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UConn looking to address low enrollment for 70 majors

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UConn looking to address low enrollment for 70 majors


The University of Connecticut is reviewing enrollment numbers for 70 programs, causing concern for the professors who teach them.

UConn says they are not directing programs to end or end majors, but they are asking educators for ideas on how to address programs with low enrollment.

“The majority of classes I’ve taken at UConn have been 20 people or less,” UConn senior Victoria Clingan said. She’s majoring in both French and philosophy.

Clingan says she’s benefitted from the tight-knit community from the programs, both in her relationships with professors and her ability to learn the material.

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“There’s a lot of marketability towards very specific majors — in particular the language majors,” said Clingan.

Both of her majors, and 68 others, are being reviewed because they have graduated 100 or fewer students in a five-year period.

The university is asking educators to provide ideas to improve those numbers.

Low enrollment isn’t just found in humanities majors. Other programs being reviewed include some math and sciences, like structural biology and environmental studies. Social work, languages, and other majors are also being reviewed.

“We just have a sense that something very bad is coming down when you have 70 programs suddenly have to justify their existence or be terminated. We’ve never seen that before,” said Christopher Vials, the president of the UConn chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

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Vials says the concern is that the potential of cuts would be a permanent solution to what he says is a temporary budget shortfall at the university.

“A lot of these programs, not only are their classes filled with students, but a lot of them are recruiting tools for faculty who do research and cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields,” said Vials.

Data NBC Connecticut obtained shows the program with the highest number of graduates in a five-year period on average is Health Care Management, with 19 students.

Other programs on the list, like Turfgrass and Soil Science, have had no graduates on average in a five-year period.

UConn says reviewing enrollment is not targeting a particular field, and the programs were selected for review based on numbers.

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“These reviews provide an opportunity to demonstrate how the various programs can use their strengths and creativity to evolve and draw more enrollment, producing graduates with a range of interesting and satisfying career paths. They also ensure we are responsible stewards of our resources,” said UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz in a statement to NBC Connecticut.

“Like every university, UConn has a process for evaluating programs with low enrollment and completion. This is essential to ensure that we maintain the right balance of programs to support our institutional mission, meet the needs of our students, and make the best use of resources,” Reitz said.

The review of these courses is due on November 1. Documents from UConn’s Administration obtained by NBC Connecticut indicate that more decisions will be reported at UConn’s Board of Trustees meeting in December.

Vials says the Association of American University Professors will be pushing back until then.

Here is the list of majors under examination for low enrollment:

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  • Animal Science
  • Ornamental Horticulture & Turfgrass Management
  • Urban Forestry Arboriculture
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Studies
  • Individualized Major – Agriculture
  • Diagnostic Genetic Sciences
  • Dietetics
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences
  • Athletic Training
  • Horticulture
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Ornamental Horticulture
  • Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems
  • Turfgrass and Soil Science
  • Health Care Management
  • Real Estate/Urban Economics
  • Agricultural Education
  • Biology Education
  • Chemistry Education
  • Earth Science Education
  • English Education
  • French Education
  • General Science Education
  • German Language Education
  • History Education
  • Mandarin Chinese Language Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Music Education
  • Physics Education
  • Spanish Language Education
  • Special Education
  • Computer Engineering
  • Engineering Physics
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Acting
  • Design/Technical Theater
  • Puppetry
  • Theater Studies
  • Music
  • Music Education in Fine Arts
  • African/Africana Studies
  • American Studies
  • Geoscience
  • Engineering Physics
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Studies
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Latino and Latin American Studies
  • Linguistics/Psychology
  • Linguistics/Philosophy
  • American Sign Language Studies
  • Arabic and Islamic Civ
  • Chinese
  • Classics/Ancient Medieval Studies
  • French
  • German
  • Italian Literary & Cultural Studies
  • Judaic Studies
  • Marine Sciences
  • Maritime Studies
  • Math/Actuarial Science/Finance
  • Mathematics/Physics
  • Structural Biology/Biophysics
  • Philosophy
  • Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies
  • Social Work



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Connecticut

Massachusetts man made lewd comments to 12-year-old girl at Connecticut bus stop, police say

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Massachusetts man made lewd comments to 12-year-old girl at Connecticut bus stop, police say


A Massachusetts man is facing charges after police say he approached a girl at a school bus stop in Connecticut and made lewd comments, officials said.

Joseph A. Mille, 35, of Medway, was arrested on an active warrant on Oct. 13 on charges of risk of injury to a child and second-degree breach of peace, according to the South Windsor Police Department.

Police said Mille’s arrest stems from an investigation into an incident on Aug. 30 in which he allegedly walked up to a 12-year-old girl as she got off a school bus and asked her if she wanted to see his private parts.

Mille had fled the scene before police arrival but officers later identified his vehicle and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Mille surrendered to police and was released on a $25,000 surety bond.

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He is due to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Oct. 30.

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State holds solemn gathering for three, unclaimed cremated veterans

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State holds solemn gathering for three, unclaimed cremated veterans


On Wednesday, the state held a military funeral for three U.S. Army veterans whose cremated remains were never claimed.

The day began in Rocky Hill at the State Department of Veteran Affairs.

A procession with police and three hearses, carrying each veteran’s remains, traveled to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.

“We never leave anyone behind, and it’s a really an honor and privilege to do this today,” said U.S. Army (Ret.) Ron Welch, Commissioner of the CT Department of Veteran Affairs.

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Elected officials, city leaders, and community members came together to honor PFC Mario Nelle DeVito, SPC James Dickenson, and SPC Richard Thurston.

Devito and Dickenson served during World War II and Thurston served during Vietnam War. All were no older than 23 when they joined the Army.

“I got to tell you, it’s really a brotherhood. That’s why I always come each year,” said U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Peter Galgano Jr., of Berlin.

Wednesday marked the 10th ceremony hosted by the CT State Department of Veterans affairs and the CT Funeral Directors’ Association.  

“Together, we developed a statewide protocol, the first of its kind in the nation, to determine whether there are cremated remained of American veterans still housed in our funeral homes,” said Lionel Lessard, President of the CT Funeral Directors’ Association.  

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The protocol, created in 2009, states that Connecticut funeral directors must confirm if the person was a veteran and contact their next of kin. If they can’t locate the family, they go through the process of providing the vet with a military funeral. 

“Even though we didn’t know these unclaimed remains, they still signed that piece of paper. So, we’re here to honor and pay tribute to them,” said Galgano.



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Connecticut

Local Official Accused Of Stealing From Church: Reports: CT News

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Local Official Accused Of Stealing From Church: Reports: CT News


Patch PM CT brings you breaking and trending news stories from all across Connecticut each weeknight. Here are the top stories from across the entire state:

The official has been charged with money laundering and larceny and his bond was $250,000, according to a report.>>>Read More.


The 47 year-old began vomiting and experiencing intense headaches in August 2019 after doing yard work. He ended up dying this week.>>>Read More.


Whether your passion is spooks, or suds — or both! — there’s something happening up your alley this weekend in Connecticut.>>>Read More.

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It was a banner day Tuesday for winning tickets in the CT Lottery.>>>Read More.


He is accused of trying to “forcibly enter a vehicle through the backseat door where the victim’s child was seated,” police said.>>>Read More.


A Silver Alert is in effect for the 41-year-old who has been reported missing from since Oct. 8.>>>Read More.


The religious organization has plans before the town’s zoning board this week regarding a massive rebuild.>>>Read More.


The Patch community platform serves communities all across Connecticut in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, New London, Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield counties. Thank you for reading.

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