Courses threatened at Staffordshire University campus
Courses and services could be axed at a Staffordshire University campus as part of cuts, it was revealed today.
The future of the Stafford campus hangs in the balance after a major review was carried out by bosses. One option on offer is to move courses and services to Stoke-on-Trent, while maintaining a presence in the town.
A decision will be made in the next 12 months.
The university currently has around 16,000 students, with 5,000 in Stafford. If the cuts happen, Stafford's two sites at Beaconside and Blackheath could lose a major facility, along with 2,000 students.
Vice chancellor at the university, Professor Michael Gunn, said part of the reason for the review was down to an ever decreasing number of students wanting to attend university across the UK, due to the rise in tuition fees.
Professor Gunn said: "The university isn't in any particular difficulty, this is about the challenges of the future. It's about recognising changes. Fewer people want to go to university – an increase in fees is clearly causing people to wonder whether they should go to university. Nationally, there are 50,000 less students in university this year.
"In my view university is a very good option, obviously not for all people, but the fees are affordable."
Professor Gunn said the possibility of going down the single campus route is merely an option, as the university looks at what would create the best 'learning experience' for students.
He added: "No programmes are currently duplicated between the two campuses, other than some smaller schemes.
"Considering this option doesn't mean to say everything would move from Stafford to Stoke. We would always maintain a presence in Stafford."
Staff at the university are currently being surveyed on their views as part of an ongoing consultation.
