East Carolina University announced plans to discontinue 44 undergraduate and graduate programs after an internal portfolio review found they were “not meeting expectations.” The public university says it will also consolidate institutional units, including merging two health colleges into a single school, as part of a broader effort to eliminate $25 million in expenses. Three-fourths of the programs targeted for closure were recommended by their own faculty, according to ECU leadership. The university said it has teach-out plans for students enrolled in the affected programs and expects discontinuations will not require layoffs. Specific program targets include education degrees, a master’s in rehabilitation studies, a bachelor’s in applied atmospheric studies, and several minors and certificates. An academic committee also recommended closing additional programs, including a bachelor’s in sociology, a master’s in software engineering, and a master’s in sustainable tourism and hospitality. ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers told the governing board the decisions are “consequential,” and emphasized attention to the “human aspects” of closures. Administrators also said they are using a retirement incentive program to support eligible faculty during transitions, while ECU moves Integrated Coastal Studies into its arts and sciences college and merges related health sciences library functions.