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When St. Joseph’s University absorbed the University of the Sciences in June, officials noted that the merger allowed St. Joseph’s to add a number of programs to its portfolio, particularly in the health-care field.
Now, less than a year later, St. Joseph’s is dropping four doctoral programs that it acquired from the University of the Sciences, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer: cell and molecular biology, cancer biology, chemistry, and biochemistry.
The move has left students perplexed, the newspaper reported, noting that the roughly 60 students currently enrolled in the programs will be able to complete their studies, though new students will not be recruited.
University officials told the Inquirer that the program cuts were due to fit, not finances.
In addition to cutting doctoral programs, St. Joseph’s is also considering selling off or leasing part or all of the former University of the Sciences campus, apparently ditching plans to use the space for graduate health programs, as originally intended in the merger.
In addition to the University of the Sciences deal completed last summer, St. Joseph’s recently announced another merger agreement, this one with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, which will allow St. Joseph’s to add a doctoral degree in nursing to its offerings.
