America’s troubled economy has hit home again at Quinnipiac University, and its latest victim is the College of Professional Studies.

After losing upwards of $50 million because of America’s financial woes, Quinnipiac has begun taking steps to tighten up their budget. According to an announcement from John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, administrative operations of the College of Professional Studies will end on June 30, 2009.

Quinnipiac offered two degrees through the program, a bachelor’s and master’s degree in organizational leadership. The bachelor’s degree will be phased out, however, and the master’s degree will become the responsibility of the School of Business.

The College of Professional Studies was a program for adult learners with at least 60 college credits, and according to their Web site, focused on providing “expertise in higher education, human resources, insurance and information technology.” Courses could be taken entirely online or “blended,” having both online and on-campus components.
Students currently in the B.S. program will be allowed to complete their studies, but no further students will be enrolled.

Matthew O’Connor, interim dean of the School of Business, and Cynthia Gallatin, associate vice president for online programs, were unavailable for comment.

Decisions surrounding Quinnipiac’s budget remained up in the air, but Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs, noted that the adjunct faculty may be affected.
“Reducing the number of course sections taught by adjunct faculty is among the issues being discussed during the University’s budget process for the 2009-2010 academic year,” Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs, said.