As part of its Academic Transformation initiative, West Virginia University (WVU) plans to eliminate 32 majors and reduce other programs. In a letter issued to the WVU Mining Engineering Department, the WVU Provost said it has determined that the number of faculty positions should be reduced from its current level to five. The college is looking at options for the Ph.D. program. Additionally, the Department of Mining Engineering will be merged with the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.
WVU said its Mining Engineering Department was placed under review due to a decline in program enrollment at the undergraduate level, significant enrollment decline in the Ph.D. program, and reduced student credit hours within the department. It also said the department posted an overall average net loss of more than $1 million per year.
