South Carolina State University President Dr. George Cooper says the economy could be a factor in deciding whether the institution keeps some academic programs with low enrollment.

University statistics reveal that 41 percent of all degree programs during the 2007-2008 year had five or fewer graduates.

Cooper acknowledges those numbers are low. He said that's due to a history of S.C. State not finding enough students to enroll in certain majors.

The man in charge of reviewing S.C. State's 2010 reaccreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Vice President Dr. Rudy Jackson, said those numbers may appear bleak on the surface. But Jackson said S.C. State is in the process of adding new majors and weeding out older ones.

He noted the university is also ramping up its recruitment efforts.

"I think we're moving in the right direction in terms of their academic programs," Jackson said.

Programs like physics, agribusiness and transportation had fewer than five graduates, which Cooper cites as the bottom level for seriously evaluating a major's productivity.

"Whether it's five students or 25 students, we have a responsibility to serve the needs of those students who choose to come to S.C. State," he said.

Cooper said the institution has to carefully investigate recent trends like job demand and create unique programs to be relevant.

For instance, he pointed out physics may have a low enrollment but has a high job demand.

He said job demand and efficiently using declining resources will be a driving factor in deciding on new and existing majors.

Dr. Gail Morrison, the state Commission on Higher Education's academic chief, said universities statewide aren't cutting many programs due to the economy yet.

However, she said institutions are scrutinizing programs more given the budget crunch.

At S.C. State, Cooper said faculty input, accreditation standards and catering to a variety of students are also key considerations.

Every year, S.C. State goes through a comprehensive assessment of every program. Department administrators and faculty recently submitted recommendations on which programs should remain.

Cooper declined to name possible programs on the chopping block. But he said some would definitely be deleted or modified.

He pointed out the agribusiness master's program and a concentration in family consumer sciences recently got the ax.

CHE approves new academic programs. It's also a watchdog agency for existing programs.

Its standard for evaluating the productivity of undergraduate programs is having either an annual average of awarding five degrees or enrolling 12.5 students over a five-year period.

Morrison says her agency reviews those statistics in two-year cycles. Programs not meeting one of those standards are placed on a provisional status.

If program fails to get off provisional status for four years, CHE usually recommends termination.

In 2008, S.C. State had four programs on provisional status.

Compared to universities with similar enrollments, Winthrop University had three programs on the list and the University of South Carolina-Upstate had two.

The S.C. State programs currently on CHE provisional status, listed along with their fall 2007 enrollment figures, are: physics, 19; art education, 21; industrial education, 33, and social studies education, 0.

Recently, Dr. Joyce Blackwell was selected to oversee S.C. State's programs as the new vice president of academic affairs. She takes office on July 1.

"Her leadership style and way of engaging faculty will help us make right choices," Cooper said.

Cooper says the key to improving program productivity is recruiting and retaining students for them.

He said S.C. State is using research and talking with technical colleges to pinpoint emerging job opportunities. The university is looking to tailor majors to meet fields with high demand.

Cooper cites engineering technology and international business, a recently added major, as such fields.

S.C. State is also trying to recruit a more diverse student body. In addition, the university is also targeting transfer students from technical colleges.

Last year, the institution established a transfer program with Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

Cooper said professors are now trying to meet students at their level and keep more office hours to better address academic needs.

He's also hoping peer counseling and using technology will aid the retention effort.

"We have to be held accountable," Cooper said.

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T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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