East Carolina University plans to cut 44 undergraduate and graduate programs after an internal review of its academic portfolio, aiming to remove about $25 million in expenses over time. Reporting says ECU targeted programs that were “not meeting expectations,” and the university outlined teach-out plans for students enrolled in the closures. The dive brief notes that three-fourths of programs slated for discontinuation were recommended by ECU faculty through an internal academic committee, while leaders also plan to consolidate units, including merging health colleges into one school. Administrators said the program closures are not expected to require layoffs, though faculty may transition through a retirement incentive program. For students and faculty, the immediate risk is disruption to degree pathways, mentoring, and long-term departmental viability. For higher education observers, the move reflects intensified portfolio rationalization as institutions manage budget pressure and respond to enrollment and graduate-rate performance targets.