East Central University announces staff, program cuts

ADA, Okla. (AP) – East Central University will eliminate 13 faculty and staff positions, cut six educational programs and suspend four athletic programs due to reductions in state funding to higher education.

ECU President John Hargrave says athletic scholarships and academic tuition waivers will also be reduced.

Hargrave said ECU has had more than $2.2 million in funding cuts since July 2015.

Higher education officials have said the system has had $74 million in cuts since 2015, and the state faces a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall.

ECU will eliminate a program for students who left college before completing their degrees, a Russian language minor, physical education teaching certification, the global education program and a kinesiology program. Also, the men’s and women’s golf and tennis teams will be suspended next year.