The University of Iowa plans to eliminate six undergraduate majors and one master’s program after a state‑mandated review identified persistently low enrollments, Provost Kevin Kregel told the Iowa Board of Regents. Programs slated for closure include majors in women’s studies, applied physics, three language programs, and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in African American studies and African American world studies. University leaders said many of the affected courses are cross‑listed and will remain available to students through other departments, but formal majors and the graduate program will be removed pending board approval. Officials emphasized workforce alignment and minimum‑size thresholds established by the regents as drivers of the decision. Why it matters: program eliminations highlight the pressure on liberal‑arts offerings amid demographic shifts and budget constraints. The move will influence faculty workloads, advising, curriculum pathways, and local advocacy; other public universities may face similar program rationalizations tied to regental or state reviews.