Florida’s Jacksonville University Discontinues Fine Arts Majors

Among the “consistently undersubscribed and specialized fields of study” the university is removing includes its music programs 

Jacksonville University (JU) has recently announced drawbacks of several courses as it works to “reimagine offerings” and “propel student success and academic excellence.”

As reported in WJXT, among the courses being removed by the university as of this fall for new students are music and arts programs in the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts and Humanities. 38 faculty members and heads of department will also be laid off as a result.  

The cutbacks are allegedly part of JU’s “Future Focused” initiative and efforts to focus more on nursing, engineering, and computer science majors.

Out of the university’s 4,200 students, around 100 will be directly impacted by the cuts — these students will be offered full-tuition scholarships for the rest of their time at JU.

JU added in a statement that controllable expenses will be reduced by about 10%, which according to WJXT amounts to $10 million. 

“I know what things like music and theater mean to us,” said JU’s President Tim Cost. “It’s a very challenging environment, and there are many universities that offer it, but it’s not the right fit for us to do, so we’re going to make sure all of them can get to graduation, but we won’t continue the programs after they graduate … We’re not asking people who like to play the piano to go become engineers and nurses.”

“These important academic decisions reflect hundreds of hours of analysis, consideration, debate and discussion among senior University leaders from all departments, including our faculty,” said Provost, Dr. Sherri Jackson. “I recognize and thank our highly engaged faculty and the academic affairs staff for their candid and spirited discussions. Their input supports our work to become an even better university for our students.”

“As a premier private, comprehensive University, we are in the business of preparing tomorrow’s leaders for success in their chosen fields,” Cost added. “It is our responsibility to continually evaluate how best to achieve that mission — by focusing our resources at the intersection of student demand and real-world opportunity. Future Focused extends and deepens that commitment.

“With this reimagined academic catalog, we are moving decisively to do more of what we do well for our students,” he added. “Together with our Board of Trustees, I thank our Provost, our Deans, the heads of our schools and institutes, our special faculty task force, and our senior staff for their collaboration. They helped build a realistic pathway that fits our priorities, provides focus and serves our community.”