"I don't agree with that. I think the physics faculty that are remaining are very strong faculty. They are excellent teachers. They are excellent researchers. Students come here because of the excellent faculty," she said.

But some faculty members say the cuts go too far. Siobahn Morgan, the department head and a professor in the department of earth sciences, said interest in the geology program, which lost a bachelor of arts and bachelor of sciences degree program in the cuts, has grown in the last three years. Though she is concerned about the future of her department, she is more concerned about the future of the school.

"It will be detrimental to broad education. If we want to have our students have a narrow range of opportunities, then that is what we are aiming for with this. We are not providing as many opportunities as we could. It's sad that with UNI having such a large number of Iowa residents as their student population that we are being penalized because we don't bring in the out-of-state tuition," Morgan said. "It's a very frustrating and disappointing time at the university right now."

Ruth Channanie-Hill is an assisstant professor of sociology and also teaches some women's and gender studies. The latter program is slated for suspension and restructuring.