The University of New Haven is considering cutting its graduate education program, a decision that has outraged students.
Now, the university's president is apologizing.
While graduate students were notified about the potential cuts and told they would be allowed to finish their degrees, undergraduate students planning to enroll in the program say they were told nothing about their status at the university if the cuts go through.
"[For] most of us, this is the only reason we came here," said Asia Gillespie, a senior who serves as the president of the university's Future Teachers Club. "We're all kind of just in limbo and all this here-say and we just really want a definite answer as what this means for us."
Students say it's especially upsetting since many came here for the 4+1 program, which allows them to complete an undergraduate education degree in four years and then earn a tuition-free masters degree in one year.
"It's really unfair that they didn't tell the undergraduates because they didn't want a protest," said Amber Crow, a senior music education major.
The controversy has prompted university president Dr. Steven Kaplan to issue an apology to undergraduate education students.
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"I'm terribly sorry and I take full responsibility. We did a terrible job of informing them of what we were doing," said Kaplan. "We reached out to the graduate students because they were the most obvious students to be affected and we neglected to inform and discuss this matter with the undergraduates."
Kaplan said declining enrollment is responsible for the possible cuts.
"Our focus has been on science and engineering and business, historically, and we're going to be putting more resources there," said Kaplan. "And when you have a limited pool of resources, then you have to make tough decisions and realign and reallocate."
Meanwhile, students are holding out hope that the program might stick around.
"I think that that's really sad because our school stands for fulfilling your dreams and it stands for creating a life that you want, and if we're telling people that your choices are invalid, how is that fair?" said Crow.
A final decision is expected within weeks.
"The seniors will not be affected. The program will still be fully in place and just as strong as ever," said Kaplan.
However, undergraduate education students in their first, second and third years will likely have to transfer elsewhere to earn their masters degrees, according to Kaplan.
"We're committed to making sure that they complete their degrees here and that they have an opportunity at a partner institution in the region to do their graduate program," he said.
