After nearly two years of discussion and revision, the College of Education is closing. Its students, staff and resources will move to the College of Arts & Sciences and will be called the “School of Education” starting fall 2026.
Leigh van den Kieboom, Associate Dean of the college, said the closure has already been approved by University President Kimo Ah Yun, Acting Provost Sarah Feldner and the Board of Trustees. University Academic Senate approved the proposal at its Dec. 8 meeting, finalizing the closure. The university is expected to send out an announcement soon.
The closure will go into effect June 30, 2026. Students currently enrolled in the college will graduate with their College of Education accreditation unless they opt out. Next year’s first-year class, however, will be enrolled through the College of Arts & Sciences.
According to the closure proposal, no changes will be made to the clinics, centers and other administrative services and personnel in the college.
The primary education, secondary education and educational studies majors will be offered under the new School of Education, as well as existing minors, graduate programs and doctorate programs. However, the counselor education and counseling psychology departments will operate as stand-alone departments in Arts & Sciences rather than being under the School of Education.
From fiscal years 2020-2024, The Office of Finance reported a positive financial trend for the college. However, the closure saves money by employing one less dean and cutting other administrative costs. Van den Kieboom said the Office of Finance anticipates a net savings of around $470,000 from consolidating services associated with the college upon closure. There are no expected costs to the university in moving its resources to the College of Arts & Sciences.
With undergraduate education students required to double major, Van den Kieboom said 92% of students in the college already have a major in the College of Arts & Sciences. This was outlined as a key reason for the closure in the original 2023 concept paper. Van den Kieboom also explained that faculty in both colleges work closely on teaching and research, so the change would improve efficiency.
In prior discussions regarding the closure, a director for the School of Education was considered who would report to the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Now, van den Kieboom said, the college is planning on transitioning existing faculty rather than adding a director position.
Heather Hathaway, Acting Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Education, supports the closure.
In her letter of support to Feldner, Hathaway wrote, “I am confident that, together, we can deliver excellent academic programs that prepare our own Marquette future-educators to benefit the many lives they will go on to influence through their work.”
This would not be a new structure for Marquette’s education programs. From 1971-2008, education was a school instead of a college. The school had its own dean at the time, but students received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts & Sciences.
This change comes as Marquette is facing possible university-wide academic college restructuring. The university has released four possible models three of which move programs out of Arts & Sciences into other potential colleges.
This move was recommended as part of Marquette’s plan to cut $31 million by 2031.
Acting Provost Sarah Feldner, who is in charge of the restructuring proposals, is expected to recommend a model to Ah Yun next week. If she decides restructuring is the best option, education programs could be moved back out of Arts & Sciences as soon as 2026 when the implementation is expected to begin.
This story was written by Sophia Tiedge. She can be reached at [email protected].
