Lander University Makes Academic Program Changes
Lander University is making changes to several academic programs this fall as part of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education’s (CHE) statewide academic program productivity review.
The changes, which include realigning concentrations within business administration and secondary education, and phasing out six degree programs with sustained low interest, are designed to better align the University’s academic offerings with student demand, program productivity, and evolving workforce and career pathways. Lander’s Board of Trustees reviewed and approved the program changes at their September 1, 2026, meeting.
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What to know:
- Lander’s program changes are being made in response to CHE’s larger review of over 1,000 academic programs statewide and are among the changes being made by public institutions across South Carolina.
- Students currently enrolled in these programs will not be affected by these changes. The University will continue offering courses in these disciplines as needed, and those students will be able to complete their existing academic plans and degree requirements as expected.
- The University will no longer admit new students into the affected degree programs and concentrations beginning with the Fall 2026 semester.
- These program changes do not involve the elimination of faculty positions.
- For most of the impacted programs, Lander has developed alternative academic pathways that allow students to continue pursuing their interests in ways that are better positioned with current workforce and career options.
Why are these changes being made?
Academic program review is part of the mission of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE). Every two years, CHE reviews all active programs at South Carolina’s public colleges and universities as part of its statewide productivity review. The review considers factors including program enrollment and completion data.
Under CHE’s productivity standards, baccalaureate programs are expected to average at least eight graduates per year over a five-year period, while master’s programs are expected to average at least three graduates annually. Based on the findings of its review, CHE makes recommendations to institutions regarding whether individual programs should continue, be modified or be terminated.
Lander’s changes are part of this larger review of 1,076 active academic programs throughout the state, with CHE recommending termination of 137 programs across all public institutions.
The Lander programs identified by CHE through this process are:
- B.S., Physical Education
- B.A., Spanish
- B.S., Environmental Science
These baccalaureate programs will be taught out, meaning students currently enrolled will be able to complete the coursework required for their degrees, but no new students will be admitted into these programs beginning this fall.
While the major track is being phased out, the Spanish minor and environmental science minor will continue to be offered for students who are interested in studying those disciplines. Additionally, for future students interested in physical education, Lander plans to develop a physical education curriculum as a concentration in the fitness and wellness degree.
Other Program Changes
Along with the CHE review, the University also conducted its own assessment of its academic offerings, identifying several additional programs with historically low enrollment for a phase-out:
- B.A., Humanities
- MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
- MFA, Visual Arts
Like the three identified by CHE, students currently enrolled in these programs will be supported through the completion of their degrees, but no future students will be admitted into the programs beginning this fall.
Realignment of Concentrations
Not all of the program changes approved Tuesday by Trustees are related to low productivity.
Lander officials said they were using the CHE review process as an opportunity to strengthen and modernize several existing, high-demand programs, making updates that are designed to provide students with clearer and more flexible career pathways.
One of those updates is the realignment of concentrations within the B.S. in Business Administration degree (accounting, financial services, healthcare management, hospitality management, information technology management, management/marketing and sports management). Only the concentrations are being phased out; the parent business administration degree will remain. The individual areas of study represented by these concentrations have been realigned with Lander’s B.S. in Management degree program or have been developed into fully standalone degrees, such as the B.S. in Accounting and the B.S. in Marketing.
Similarly, Lander is phasing out the secondary education concentrations in chemistry, English, history and mathematics. The parent chemistry, English, history and mathematics degree programs will remain in place. Future students interested in pursuing secondary education in these fields will instead have the option of enrolling in Lander’s standalone B.S. in Secondary Education programs in these disciplines.
“In each of these instances, the impact relates to future students, not students who are already enrolled,” said Dr. Jim Colbert, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Students currently enrolled in these programs do not need to change majors, and they will see no difference in their degree plans.”
In most cases, Colbert said, Lander has developed alternative academic pathways that allow students to continue pursuing their interests in ways that are better positioned with current workforce and career options.
“Lander is using the CHE review process as an opportunity to realign and update some of our programs that have historically had lower interest from students, either because they didn’t offer a clear career path, or because the needs of the workforce have changed,” Colbert said. “These program changes are about making sure our academic offerings continue to serve students well and prepare them for the opportunities they will encounter after graduation.”