Clark University to shutter three degree programs, amid existential challenges

Photo | Brad Kane Clark University in Worcester

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Clark University in Worcester will close three degree programs and reconfigure a fourth, citing a greater-than-expected enrollment decline in its current first-year class, as well as unspecified existential challenges.

Throughout the next two to three years, Clark will sunset majors and minors in its Francophone studies, ancient civilization, and comparative literature. The university will redesign its studio arts major.

Students enrolled in the degree tracks will be able to finish the programs, but new students will not be able to enroll for the majors and minors. The courses have already been removed from the university’s 2025-2026 academic calendar, according to a statement from Clark emailed to WBJ.

The school’s language, literature, and culture department, which houses the Francophone studies, ancient civilization, and comparative literature programs, is working on a new proposed major to include some content from the current programs.

The university’s studio art major is being redesigned to address a number of challenges within the program, especially its reliance on part-time faculty. Clark is working with its Becker School of Design and Technology and its computer science department to develop the major, which is anticipated to be available in fall 2026.

Clark’s studio arts minor will continue to be offered.

The program closures have not yet resulted in layoffs, although Clark said personnel decisions have not been made, according to its statement.

The programs’ discontinuation is part of a broader university strategic planning and prioritizing initiative that took on greater urgency due to challenges facing higher education and the school’s enrollment decline, the latter the university said is partly attributed to the mishandled FAFSA rollout of 2024.

“The overriding goals have been three-fold: building even deeper distinction in areas of historic prestige, prioritizing career outcomes of our academic offerings, and honing operations for sustainable, long-term strength. This effort was fully underway in January 2024, including anticipation of potential enrollment declines due to national demographic shifts,” Clark said in the email.

To not take prioritizing actions at this time, such as the program closures, would be irresponsible on the university’s behalf, Clark wrote.

“We deeply appreciate that change can be hard. Also, that our faculty are strongly committed to our university and our students, and that they are passionate about their fields. Our sincere hope and what we have been aiming for through our many months of collaboration is that we can achieve a shared path forward,” Clark said in the email.

Clark’s decision to close the programs was made through consultation and agreement from the school’s Planning and Budget Review Committee of faculty governance.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.