Students walk across the campus of The Ohio State University
Students walk across the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images

ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio University announced Tuesday that it will suspend entry into 11 undergraduate academic programs, per requirements of the new Advance Ohio Higher Education Act. The law, which took effect June 27, mandates that programs graduate an average of at least five students per year over the past three years.

University officials submitted the proposed restructuring plan to the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Programs that fail to meet the threshold will be sunsetting; students already enrolled will still be able to complete their degrees under the terms outlined in the university catalog.

Of the 36 programs falling below the requirement, 11 are slated for suspension, while 18 are proposed for mergers with related programs. Additionally, Ohio University has requested waivers for seven others, citing recent changes to the curriculum or their alignment with workforce needs.

Executive Vice President and Provost Donald J. Leo guided deans and faculty through a process of program evaluation. The university does not anticipate immediate impacts on full-time faculty as a result of these changes.