Gadsden, Ala .— Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State Community College, has announced the closure of the College’s Aquaculture program at the end of spring semester 2019.

“Unfortunately, we have struggled to meet program viability standards or even identify a market demand for this program in our region,” she said. “Please know this program has been diligently reviewed. We have worked to find a solution to retain this unique program for about three years.”

Decisions related to program closure are based on a careful analysis of student demand, job availability, graduation/completion rates, overall costs and program quality. Aquaculture’s five-year completion total is 27 completers, an average of 5.4 per year. The program viability standard established by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education is a five-year average of 7.5 graduates per year, Lavender said. Employment in the local job market is also an important factor, she said.

“Of the last 10 Aquaculture graduates, only one graduate is employed locally,” Lavender said. “Three students have declared Aquaculture as a major for Fall 2018 and will be able to complete all course requirements by the end of the spring semester.”

The program costs are approximately $188,000 per year while the program generated 222 credit hours in the 2016-17 academic year, which equates to $32,856, she said.

Lavender said the program’s closure has nothing to do with program quality nor the competence and abilities of Dr. Hugh Hammer, the program director.

“Dr. Hammer is a super star in aquaculture education,” she said. “He has brought attention and recognition to our college through industry honors and student success.”

Since the program only offers a short-term certificate, the teach-out plant will require one academic year to allow the three students who have declared a major in Aquaculture to complete the certificate. The students will be notified by letter that the program closure procedure will be initiated immediately.