West Virginia University would end world language majors, continue Spanish, Chinese instruction

West Virginia University administrators reversed course Tuesday on two world languages, saying they will now recommend to the board of governors that Spanish and Chinese continue to be taught in person.

But administrators said their final recommendations will include asking the board on Sept. 15 to eliminate foreign language majors and master’s degree programs. They also propose moving the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics to an as-yet-undecided unit and cutting faculty positions from 24 to 5.

WVU, whose proposed cuts in response to enrollment and financial woes has drawn national attention, say language enrollment has been down.

“Despite this trend, the final recommendation addresses many of the concerns brought forward in the past two weeks, including the importance of offering language instruction at a land-grant institution,” the university said in announcing its decision.

“We listened to our students’ feedback,” said Maryanne Reed, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This final recommendation will allow students to take language courses as electives and potentially as minors.”

With one first-time undergraduate student enrolled as a primary major in languages this fall, the department did not appeal the discontinuation of bachelor’s degree programs in Chinese studies, French, German studies, Russian studies and Spanish; and master’s programs in linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Administrators called Spanish a high-demand language and Chinese a critical-need language. Other final recommendations in other academic areas can be found here.