Hertfordshire to Eliminate Philosophy from Its Curriculum

In a couple of years, students at the University of Hertfordshire will be unable to take a philosophy course there. The administration has announced a decision to eliminate the whole of the undergraduate philosophy program, according to several sources. The decision cuts not just the philosophy degree program, but, eventually, all philosophy classes. A “teach-out agreement” will be worked out for existing philosophy students, and students who recently signed up to study philosophy in the coming year are having their offers withdrawn. “Teaching will effectively end in two years,” said one source. Philosophy is one of several humanities programs at the university slated to be cut. No layoffs have yet been announced, but are expected, despite the fact that all of the current philosophy faculty are permanent (tenured). Faculty were told that the reason for the decision was “financial”. Details about the decision and how it was reached have not been shared with the faculty, and reportedly…