Towson University is dissolving its Women’s and Gender Studies department after reporting only 11 majors amid claims the unit’s budget neared $870,000.
Story Snapshot
- Towson will shift Women’s and Gender Studies from a department to a program in Fall 2026 due to low majors.
- Conservative outlets said the department’s budget reached about $870,000, sparking outrage over spending.
- Maryland budget records show Towson’s total spending is in the hundreds of millions, placing the figure in context.
- The program will continue to offer a major and minor, but without stand-alone departmental status.
What Towson Decided and When It Takes Effect
Towson University said it will restructure Women’s and Gender Studies from a stand-alone department into a program starting in Fall 2026. The campus paper reported the move follows very low major counts and will place the field under another academic unit. Students can still major or minor in Women’s and Gender Studies after the change. The report stated the department currently serves only 11 undergraduate majors, based on internal data the outlet obtained.
Campus discussion focused on enrollment and structure, not the end of the field. The Towerlight explained that the program will continue but without independent departmental status. That means the subject remains available, courses still run, and students can finish degrees. The change fits a common step universities use when a unit has small headcounts. It can lower overhead while keeping the curriculum available to interested students.
The $870,000 Figure and Why It Drew Fire
Conservative sites blasted Towson after claiming the department’s budget rose to about $870,000 in recent years. They argued the spending was wasteful, given the small number of majors. The Gateway Pundit cited Campus Reform for the estimate and framed the growth as proof of misplaced priorities. The article highlighted a drop in enrollment over time and used the dollar figure to argue that the department drained resources despite limited demand.
The $870,000 claim landed because it pairs a big number with a tiny major count. That contrast triggers anger for families paying rising tuition and taxes. But raw department-line numbers can be hard to parse. Universities often share faculty, offices, and administrative staff across programs. Some costs sit centrally and get allocated on paper. That means a “department budget” is not always a simple pot tied only to 11 majors in one degree path.
How Towson’s Overall Budget Frames the Debate
Maryland’s budget analysis shows Towson’s total operating spending at about $651 million for the year reviewed. That context shows how one mid six-figure line sits within a much larger system of costs. Advocates for the cut say every dollar matters and small programs should scale with enrollment. Defenders often reply that identity and humanities fields serve many general education students and minors, not just majors, which spreads their impact beyond one count.
Towson has worked through broader budget pressure. System testimony noted the university ran a budget reduction exercise because of expected state cuts. In such periods, schools often review units with low enrollment for restructuring. Leaders try to protect core teaching while trimming duplicate administration. Restructuring a small department into a program is a known path to reduce overhead while keeping course access in place for students.
What Students and Taxpayers Should Watch Next
Students should look for clear teach-out plans and advising. Towson said the major and minor will remain, which limits disruption. The key question is whether course offerings stay steady and on time for graduation. If advising and scheduling hold, most students will feel little change. If sections shrink, time to degree could slip. The campus will need to explain how shared resources will support the program after the shift.
Outrageous! Towson University Spends $870K on Women’s and Gender Studies Department with Just 11 Majors https://t.co/glHcxrfMP6 #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— Lester McClintock (@LesterMcCl28224) August 2, 2026
Taxpayers and families should watch how Towson and other public schools report unit costs. Clean, apples-to-apples numbers can build trust in tough times. When the public sees a large budget for a small major, they suspect bloat and ideology. When schools explain shared costs and course enrollments beyond majors, people can judge value better. Transparent data, program reviews, and clear outcomes help both sides assess what to fund and what to consolidate.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, towson.edu, 2024mdmanual.msa.maryland.gov
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