Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) World Language Education program has been cut to comply with Ohio’s Senate Bill 1 (SB1) requirements.

The university cites dwindling enrollment numbers as the cause, “with just three incoming students enrolled this fall semester.”

Under SB1, universities are instructed to eliminate programs that have not seen an average of 15 graduates in the last three years. In 2025, BGSU’s World Language Education program graduated approximately five students, with “over the last 10 years…under four students graduating from the program” each year.

“Bowling Green State University continues to offer multiple, flexible degree pathways for students interested in teaching a world language in K-12,” the university stated. BGSU “remains committed to providing academic programs that are in great demand by both our students and the state and will continue to provide pathways that meet these needs.”

Incoming students will no longer be able to pursue a World Language Education degree, but any currently enrolled student can progress towards graduation with assurance of receiving licensure.

Prospective world language educators are encouraged to major in their desired language or pursue teacher licensure.

Two recent World Language Education graduates weighed in with their perspectives.

“I am honestly devastated to know that I was one of the last students to graduate with this degree,” Lauren Sebring, a Class of 2025 graduate, said. “Even if I could have still gotten a Spanish degree and taught, I feel that without my education classes, I would be much less successful while teaching.”

David Lott, the former World Language Education Student Ambassador and co-President of World Language Educators’ Association, graduated from the program alongside Sebring.

While a student, Lott passionately advocated for the program, contacting the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President to voice his concerns with the recent cut.

“BGSU is a public institution for the public good, yet I fail to see how this change works for the public good,” Lott wrote.

Lott believes “the program was treated unfairly,” especially considering it has created inspired and capable professionals.

Lesley Chapman, the Advocacy Chair for the Ohio World Language Association, a French teacher in her 33rd year and a BGSU alum, believes the loss of this program “is a huge disservice to the teaching community…in Ohio.”

She notes that “approximately 400” world language educator positions are unfilled in the state, with “only a handful of universities where you can train to become a world language teacher.”

Chapman said the University of Toledo, the University of Cincinnati and Miami University have all defunded their World Language Education programs within recent years.

“The only university in Ohio that offers a robust program, like the one BG used to have, is the Ohio State University,” Chapman said.

“If we don’t have teacher training programs for world languages, we won’t have teachers…This is the opposite of what we, as educators in the 21st century, should be doing,” Chapman said. “We are on the brink of a world language crisis in this country and it is the closure of programs like this, those that train teachers to take on these global challenges, that will expedite this process.”

Chapman reflected on her positive experience with BGSU’s program to compare.

“The thought that the same education we received, the gold standard, could be replaced with the equivalent of a certificate is a slap in the face,” Chapman said. “It is not a reflection of the amazing education that we received as students of BGSU. We hope that a different solution will be considered.”

The World Language Education Program requirements for students: www.bgsu.edu/academics/world-language-education.