The University of Wisconsin system is preparing to adopt a new early‑warning metric that flags undergraduate programs averaging 15 or fewer juniors and seniors for review, a change that could put roughly 65 programs — about 10% of the system’s undergraduate offerings — on notice. System leaders said the measure is intended to identify weak programs earlier than the prior threshold, which focused on degrees conferred over five years. Administrators who developed the metric argue it better captures instructional workload and program health; faculty and governance advocates cautioned the numerical rule risks overlooking qualitative contributions and the broader mission of programs. The task force recommended pairing quantitative triggers with qualitative review to capture total program value. The policy shift follows a Deloitte review of system finances and enrollment pressures and signals a broader trend: state systems are accelerating program rationalization as demographic and budgetary pressures mount.