Kansas City, Mo. ? The University of Missouri-Kansas City has dropped six degree programs and is delaying a project to expand and renovate the University Center.

The university’s provost, Bill Osborne, reported on the degree program reductions Friday during a meeting of the University of Missouri Board of Curators in Columbia.

The programs being closed are: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies; a master’s degree in biology; Master of Engineering in civil engineering; Master of Engineering in mechanical engineering; and certificate in oral medicine in the School of Dentistry.

The university will continue to offer Master of Science degrees in civil engineering and mechanical engineering.

Osborne said the decision would not disrupt many students’ plans because the programs have low enrollments or the students can pursue their studies in related programs. He was unable to provide exact enrollment figures for the six programs.

The renovation of the University Center was put on hold because the school had not been able to raise enough private money for the project, the curators were told. The University Center houses the bookstore, cafeteria, meeting rooms and student organization offices.

In April 2002, the school’s Student Senate agreed to have students pay $85 per semester for the project, but students have not begun paying the fee. The curators approved the design concept for the addition last fall.

At that time, Missouri-Kansas City leaders said they would collect private donations to pay for the alumni portion of the project. Groundbreaking was scheduled for this summer or fall. But university officials now say they haven’t been able to raise enough private money.

They’re considering alternatives, such as continuing fund raising and beginning construction later; reducing the size of the project to include only student-related areas paid for by the new student fee; or re-evaluating the project because of the university’s plan to expand the nearby Miller Nichols Library.