Ripon College Announces Strategic Academic Expansion, New Programs in High-Demand Fields

Ripon College today announced a significant expansion of its academic offerings, driven by a comprehensive academic program review and departmental self-assessment aimed at aligning the College’s curriculum with student interest and career opportunity in a changing higher education landscape.

“We examined what today’s students need to thrive – in the classroom and after graduation,” said President Victoria N. Folse. “Restructuring and investing in new programs rooted in the liberal arts and sciences will help students and families recognize a significant return on investment when choosing Ripon College and prepare our students for careers of the future.”

The College will launch two new interdisciplinary programs this year: Criminal Justice, Peace and Human Rights, responding to strong student demand and regional workforce needs in law enforcement and public service; and Global and Cultural Studies, an innovative program drawing on faculty expertise across multiple departments to prepare students for global citizenship and careers in a diverse world.

Ripon College is also introducing a new Accounting major, complementing its established Economics and Business Management program and meeting sustained demand from students and regional employers.

To support this growth, the College is adding new faculty positions in Criminal Justice and in Accounting, and strengthening its commitment to existing programs by converting two visiting faculty positions to permanent, tenure-track roles. The College will also welcome a new tenured faculty member specializing in Communication and Media Studies and a Data Science professor, reflecting Ripon College’s investment in emerging fields.

As part of this ongoing evolution, two programs, Anthropology and French and Francophone Studies, will be phased out over the coming year, with full support for current students to complete their studies and a transition plan for affected faculty.

This academic expansion also reaffirms Ripon’s investment in high-impact practices, with plans to grow experiential learning, donor and employer funded paid internships, study aboard options and research opportunities across departments. These initiatives will further align the College’s offerings with student demand and marketplace realities all without compromising the liberal arts and sciences foundation that has defined a Ripon College education for generations.

“Every decision in this review started with one question: what will best serve our students, today and for the next generation?” said Folse. “These changes reflect our answer: bold, strategic investment in their future.”