Three-fourths of the $8 million deficit has been largely addressed through the retirements and resignations. In fiscal year 2020, the university will reduce its full-time employee base by about 44 positions. UW-Stevens Point continues to work on the remaining $2 million reduction that needs to be realized by fiscal year 2022, according to the university’s budget office.

Patterson debuted in the fall a scaled-back version of his plan, which targeted a half-dozen programs as opposed to 13.

The six programs — and the tenured faculty teaching in those programs — will remain in place, officials said, though some programs may be reworked.

For example, the university will retain its history major, but restructure the social science teaching curriculum in partnership with the School of Education. Faculty are also revising the non-teaching history major. The department may develop a student internship with the Central Wisconsin Historical Society, department chairman Lee Willis said.