Major Changes in Works for Montana Tech Programs

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — Major changes are in the works at a Montana university.
Montana Tech plans to cut and merge certain programs and cut and transfer some faculty positions.

Programs scheduled for elimination include professional and technical communication, data science and statistics, and health care informatics.

 
Programs being merged include geophysical and geological engineering.

 
The Montana Standard reports the school in Butte will cut over 13 full-time faculty positions and over 10 staff positions.

 
Faculty in the affected departments say the news is devastating. Provost Doug Abbott says the school isn't in dire financial shape but both state funding and overall enrollment are down.

 
Abbott says full-time faculty have increased by about a third over the past decade.