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Dear Cal State Â鶹Éç Community,

As we approach the end of the academic year, we write to provide an update on the progress made this spring in the Focused Program Review process and to share anticipated next steps. We recognize that Friday, May 23 marks the final working day for many faculty, and in the spirit of transparency, we want to revisit how this work began, what has transpired, and what lies ahead.

Overview of the Process to Date

In Spring 2025, we (President Sandeen and Interim Provost Greer) requested that the Academic Senate form an Advisory Task Force on Focused Program Review, modeled after the 2024 Task Force on Low Degree Conferring Programs.

The Senate charged the Task Force with developing internal criteria for identifying programs and concentrations with low enrollment (in majors, service, and/or GE courses) and/or low degree conferral. This charge was intended to extend the analysis beyond the criteria used by the Chancellor’s Office last year and to inform recommendations regarding those programs.

Task Force members were appointed by the Senate and included representation from all four colleges, the library, lecturers, administration, and members from COBRA and CAPR:

• Kim Greer – Interim Provost / Vice President, Academic Affairs
• Filippo Rebessi – Chair, Economics, CBE
• Derek Jackson Kimball – Professor, Physics, CSCI
• James Tandon – Associate Professor, Engineering, CSCI
• John Wenzler – Library
• Kathryn Hayes – Chair, Educational Leadership, CEAS
• Michael Lee - Chair, Geography & Environmental Studies, CLASS
• Michelle St. George – Lecturer, English, CLASS
• Rafael Hernandez – Deputy Provost, Academic Resources & Planning
• Trinie Dalton – Assistant Professor, English, CLASS (COBRA representative)
• Vivian Gonzalez Cueto – Assistant Professor, Public Affairs and Administration, CLASS (CAPR representative)
• Mitch Watnik – Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Services
• Philip Cole-Regis – Operations Manager, Academic Affairs

The Task Force met weekly between March 12 and April 23, 2025. The resulting Foundational Document outlines the principles and parameters developed during these meetings and serves as the framework for evaluating academic programs and concentrations. Importantly, the Task Force did not make recommendations about individual programs or concentrations; rather, it provided criteria and data to guide subsequent stages of the review.

The Focused Program Review Data Set, which lists the programs and concentrations identified for review, is available via the Office of Academic Affairs website. All materials developed by the Task Force, including reference documents, are posted on this site.

Commitment to Transparency

Throughout the process, Task Force members prioritized openness and communication. They regularly engaged with colleagues in their colleges and departments, and COBRA and CAPR liaisons provided updates to their committees. Information was also shared during Academic Senate meetings, monthly Deans & Chairs meetings, and via the Academic Affairs website.

An open forum was held on April 18 to present the Task Force’s progress and gather campus feedback. Several suggestions from that forum were incorporated into the final version of the dataset. Programs (undergraduate and graduate) earning 4 or more points out of a possible 6 in the dataset are included in the current focused review phase.

We recognize that discussions about program review—particularly in the context of a structural budget deficit and anticipated systemwide budget reductions—can generate concern. The Task Force approached its work with care, empathy, and a commitment to fairness and consistency.

Next Steps

• Consultation with Deans: Interim Provost Greer has consulted with college deans regarding the programs identified for review.
• Department Chair Meetings: In the coming weeks, the President and Interim Provost will offer to meet with department chairs of programs and concentrations under review to hear additional feedback. Department chairs not on 12-month appointments will be appropriately compensated for participating in these meetings.
• Ongoing Communication: We will continue to share updates through the summer and into early fall, including developments related to undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations under review.

In closing, we want to underscore the following points:

• No decisions have been made at this time.
• The Focused Program Review aims to align our academic offerings and expenditures with current enrollment levels, workforce demands and an emphasis on the student educational experience.
• This process has been intentionally designed to reflect data-informed decision-making and shared governance.

Thank you for your attention to and engagement in this important institutional effort. We will provide further updates over the summer and look forward to continuing the conversation when we reconvene in the fall.

Warm regards,

President Cathy Sandeen
Interim Provost Kim Greer

May 22, 2025