West Virginia University Adjusts Language Program Cuts Following Appeal

West Virginia University (WVU) has revised its budget-cutting plan, deciding to keep some face-to-face Spanish and Chinese classes while eliminating majors in those subjects and several other foreign language and linguistics classes. The university faced backlash after initially recommending the dissolution of the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics and cutting two dozen faculty positions. The revised plan retains five faculty positions for Spanish and Chinese classes but omits face-to-face classes in Russian, German, and French. WVU's budget deficit of $45 million annually has led to proposed cuts in various academic programs, drawing outrage from students and faculty. The final decision on these proposals will be made by the university's Board of Governors on September 15.