Recent news that the UNC Board of Governors voted to discontinue 46 degree programs across the UNC system held a big shock for the North Carolina Central University community.

The Daily Tar Heel’s May 23 story on the cuts contained a list that included the elimination of degree programs in theater and jazz at the historically black university. But sources at NCCU tell WCHL that these two fields of study will remain at the school – with some changes.

“The jazz studies program is not going away,” said Ayana D. Hernandez, associate vice chancellor for university relations at N.C. Central University. “North Carolina Central University will have a degree concentration in jazz studies.”

News that the jazz and theater degree programs at NCCU would get the ax spread quickly through social media this week, and the outrage was understandable.

Faculty members in the Jazz Studies program include Director Ira Wiggins; famed saxophonist Branford Marsalis; and his sometime musical collaborator, pianist Joey Calderazzo.

NCCU’s history of teaching, broadcasting and revering jazz in North Carolina is cherished by many. NCCU without jazz seems almost unthinkable. Hernandez told WCHL it’s true that, beginning with the 2015-16 academic year, the Bachelors of Jazz Studies degree will no longer be offered.

Instead, jazz studies will be offered as one of five concentrations under a Bachelor of Music degree program.

The other four concentrations will be: instrumental performance; vocal performance; music education; and ethnomusicology. The Master of Music in Jazz Studies program will remain untouched.

Sources at NCCU told WCHL they got what they wanted from the outcome, based on recommendations put forward by the school in response to a biennial review of “low-productivity” programs.

Based just on this year’s numbers, the Jazz Studies program seemed like a candidate for review. There were four baccalaureate graduates in Jazz Studies in this May’s commencement at NCCU. Five graduate students received degrees.

The thought of losing Theatre Performance also caused much distress as the Daily Tar Heel story spread quickly. Regular performances of plays in the Farrison-Newton Communications Building’s University Theatre have created another beloved tradition, lasting several decades.

Fear not, said Hernadez. The theater program will simply consolidate further with dance. She adds that no positions will be cut to make these changes, and that resources will still be there – and shared.

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