The Iowa Board of Regents today will consider a proposal that would make deep cuts at the University of Northern Iowa. This morning, a committee made up of the provosts from Iowa, Iowa State and UNI as well as two members from the board that governs the universities unanimously approved UNI’s request to eliminate dozens of academic programs.

On the chopping block: degrees in German, French, physics and geography. Minors in subjects like Portuguese and astronomy are also being eliminated. Gloria Gibson, UNI’s provost, told the committee it’s too soon to tell whether these changes will reduce UNI’s enrollment, but she says the plan is to let students already enrolled in the programs complete their degrees.

The Board of Regents is meeting this afternoon at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.