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'No other program like this': UNL gets pushback for ending Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 20:27 GMT by KLTN
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UNL Faces Student Protests as Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Program Discontinued

In a decision that has sent shockwaves through campus, the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln (UNL) announced that it will terminate its Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) program effective fall 2025. The move, justified by budgetary constraints and a strategic shift within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has triggered immediate pushback from students, faculty, and local climate experts who argue that the program is essential to Nebraska’s agricultural future and its ability to confront climate change.

A Long‑Standing Legacy Cut Short

The EAS program, founded in 1952, has been a cornerstone of UNL’s research and teaching mission. For more than seven decades, it has trained meteorologists, climate scientists, and environmental physicists, many of whom went on to careers at the National Weather Service, NOAA, and private industry. Faculty have secured over $2 million in external research funding annually and have contributed to more than 100 peer‑reviewed publications in the last decade alone.

“EAS was more than a degree— it was a living laboratory that fed into the state’s agriculture, transportation, and emergency management sectors,” said Dr. Karen Heller, a senior faculty member who has led the atmospheric modeling lab since 2008. “Cutting it off is a disservice to the communities that rely on our data.”

Why the Program Is Being Cut

The university’s press release, posted on the system’s website, cites a need to “realign departmental resources in response to a $12 million deficit projected for the upcoming fiscal year.” It also states that “the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will consolidate its focus on core agricultural disciplines, leaving the EAS curriculum to be absorbed, where possible, into the broader Environmental Sciences track.”

A letter to the dean, attached to the press release, notes that the EAS faculty’s combined workload will be redistributed to other departments— Geography, Environmental Science, and Civil & Environmental Engineering— in order to “maintain continuity of research activities while maximizing student enrollment in related majors.” The university’s Board of Regents approved the decision after a vote held on April 10th, following a detailed financial audit presented by the Office of the Provost.

Student and Faculty Response

Students enrolled in the EAS program have organized a petition demanding the university reconsider the decision. The petition, circulating through the Student Union’s online portal, has gathered over 1,200 signatures, representing roughly 80 % of the program’s current cohort. “We are not just signing a petition; we’re asking the university to preserve an academic discipline that is critical for the next generation of Nebraska scientists,” wrote senior Maya Patel, a meteorology major who hopes to stay in the state after graduation.

Faculty have also voiced their concerns. An open letter signed by 18 of the 22 EAS faculty members was posted on the university’s internal faculty portal. The letter highlights the risk of losing specialized expertise and the potential long‑term impact on Nebraska’s capacity to manage extreme weather events. It suggests alternative solutions, including a restructuring of the program rather than its elimination.

Broader Implications for Nebraska

Nebraska’s agricultural economy is heavily dependent on accurate weather forecasting and climate modeling. The state’s 2023 budget already allocated $1.5 million for research grants that support local weather stations and data collection networks. By ending the EAS program, UNL risks creating a gap in the pipeline of trained professionals needed to support these initiatives.

“Without a dedicated atmospheric sciences program, we are essentially losing the academic foundation that feeds our weather services and agricultural planning,” said Dr. Luis Torres, director of the Nebraska Climate Action Alliance, an advocacy group that opposed the university’s decision. “This could lead to a decline in the accuracy of forecasts that farmers rely on for planting and harvesting decisions.”

The university’s decision also aligns with a national trend of cutting environmental and atmospheric science programs amid shifting funding priorities. A recent analysis by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities highlighted that 12 of the top 25 public universities in the Midwest have either cut or are considering cutting similar programs.

Looking Ahead

UNL’s administration has indicated that it is open to dialogue with stakeholders. A press conference scheduled for next Monday will allow students and faculty to present their case directly to the dean and the Board of Regents. Meanwhile, the university has offered a “transitional support program” for current students, which includes assistance in transferring to other institutions and a limited scholarship fund to cover tuition for the next semester.

If the program is indeed phased out, the legacy of the EAS faculty and their research could persist through collaborative projects with external partners such as NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of Nebraska’s Cooperative Extension Service. However, many experts caution that such collaborations cannot replace the unique training environment that a dedicated atmospheric sciences department provides.

As the debate unfolds, Nebraska’s future scientists, farmers, and policymakers will watch closely. The outcome will not only shape the academic landscape of UNL but may also determine how effectively the state can adapt to the escalating challenges posed by a changing climate.