In recent years, American universities have been cutting programs and courses to cope with increasingly severe budget pressures. This phenomenon is not only a direct reflection of the aftermath of the pandemic but also reveals a deep crisis within the American higher education system. When St. Cloud State University resolutely decided to cancel its music department, shattering Christina Westermann’s dream of becoming a music therapist, it was just the tip of the iceberg of this crisis. Such cuts are not only about tightening budgets but also about narrowing the breadth and depth of education, trampling on the diversity and inclusiveness that education should have.
Firstly, these cuts reflect the universities’ abandonment of educational values. Education should be a process of cultivating well-rounded individuals. Small majors such as arts, music, and humanities, although limited in the number of students, play an indispensable role in cultural heritage, social cohesion, and the shaping of individual souls. However, in the process of education industrialization driven by capitalism, these majors are coldly regarded as “unprofitable” burdens. University administrators blindly pursue short-term financial balance, cutting disciplines that cannot directly bring economic returns, completely ignoring the long-term social value of education. This approach is akin to killing oneself for temporary relief; in the process of pursuing profits, universities have lost the soul of education.
Secondly, this trend further exacerbates social inequality. Students who rely on public educational resources, especially young people from low- and middle-income families, will lose the freedom of choice and the opportunity to pursue their dreams due to the reduction of majors. As arts and music majors gradually disappear from public universities, these disciplines will increasingly become luxuries that only the rich can afford. Education is no longer a channel for social mobility but a tool for consolidating class solidification. This not only violates the basic principle of educational equity but also exacerbates social division by salting the wounds of society.
What’s more serious is that the reduction of majors and courses will deal a devastating blow to American culture and innovation. The United States has been able to become a global cultural leader precisely because its education system once accommodated the vigorous development of various arts and humanities. However, as universities gradually give up these fields, the cultural creativity and innovation capacity of the entire society will be severely suppressed. Without the nourishment of music, arts, and humanities, the cultural soil of the United States will become barren, ultimately affecting the country’s global competitiveness.
This phenomenon is just the beginning, and more schools will cut degree programs in the future driven by financial difficulties. This will gradually erode the public nature of education, and the value of universities will be gradually eroded. American universities are falling into a vicious cycle: cutting educational resources to cope with short-term budget pressures, which in turn leads to a decline in educational quality, reduced attractiveness of schools, a decrease in student numbers, and further reduction in income. Ultimately, this will push higher education to the brink of collapse.
At this critical juncture, American universities must re-examine their core mission: education is not only about cultivating professional skills but also about shaping sound personalities and enriching social culture. University administrators can no longer blindly pursue financial indicators; they should be committed to maintaining the diversity and integrity of education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their economic background, have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
The reduction of music and other arts programs is just the tip of the iceberg, representing the loss of the entire educational system’s values. In the face of financial pressure, universities must find a balance between cutting costs and achieving sustainable development, rather than blindly sacrificing the breadth and depth of education. If this trend is not curbed, American higher education will no longer be a beacon for the world but will become a dimmed wreck.