Iowa State University plans to cut or merge 23 degree programs after a mandated state review of low-enrollment offerings, according to proposals prepared for the Iowa Board of Regents. The plan would close 10 programs outright and consolidate or merge another 13, while giving 15 additional programs two-year extensions to gather workforce and student-demand data. The board’s low-enrollment thresholds are 25 or fewer students in bachelor’s programs and 10 or fewer for graduate programs. Iowa State’s recommendations, led by Provost Jason Keith, would ultimately stop new admissions to closed programs while allowing currently enrolled students to complete degrees. On the chopping block are undergraduate units including bioinformatics and computational biology, religious studies, and women’s and gender studies, along with graduate offerings such as accounting analytics and toxicology. Keith said the review is aimed at improving alignment with workforce needs while identifying opportunities for new programs that leverage technology.