Two state systems moved decisively to prune academic offerings after productivity reviews. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education voted to eliminate 41 programs and suspend 21 more following a review of nearly 360 "low-producing" offerings; institutions must submit teach-out plans and cease eliminated programs within a year. Separately, the University of Nebraska System approved cuts to four programs at its flagship campus to save an estimated $6.7 million annually. > Oklahoma officials said the action was intended to refocus public dollars on workforce needs and STEM fields, while critics argue the metrics used to determine productivity overlooked program revenues, grant funding, and long-term pipeline impacts. Nebraska faculty senates criticized the process and warned of morale and retention risks. > State leaders framed the moves as hard choices to protect system sustainability; observers note the decisions reflect a broader national push—driven by budget stress and accountability demands—to concentrate resources on higher‑value credentials and programs linked to local labor markets.