Three jobs in the music and theatre sector in the northern states are to be eliminated in 2025/26

Northern State University is cutting three positions for the 2025-26 school year.

All are in the areas of theater and music, and the decision was made to “accommodate our program and demand for courses,” according to an email sent to Northern State staff last week by Michael Wanous, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“The theater major was discontinued last year due to unsustainable enrollment and falling below thresholds,” the message said. “While enrollment in our dynamic music department remains strong overall, demand in the areas of concentration has evolved over time.”

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Wanous' emails state that all three people scheduled to be fired have been notified.

The university issued a statement about the changes and announced that more information will be released later this fall.

“Northern State University welcomed six new faculty members and 41 new staff members at the President's Meeting last week. Changes planned for the 2025-26 academic year in theater and our dynamic music department have been communicated to the campus,” the statement said.

One of the people notified of the job cuts is Kane Anderson, assistant professor of acting and directing, who said he was told that two other staff members would lose their jobs in the next year and that some involuntary retirements may be on the horizon.

Northern did not comment on the possible resignations.

Retiring assistant professor concerned about future of theater program

University officials said a year ago that there would be a revised theater minor and a new musical theater minor.

Anderson, however, is concerned about who will run these programs since he is the only remaining theater employee. He said he was given less than a year to increase enrollment in the musical side program he created.

Since he is the last theater teacher on campus, the elimination of his position feels like a deep cut, he said.

Northern announced in September 2023 that it would be eliminating its theater major. This was accompanied by the elimination of the position of Noah Files Assistant Professor of Theater Design, who had served until the end of the last school year.

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Anderson said he had heard the term “rightsizing” in connection with this year’s decision.

He said he did not believe there were any bad intentions behind the change in the theater, but that it was not a matter of heart either.

Anderson said he learned early last week that his job might be at risk and believes he forced the chief administrative officer to announce the layoffs sooner than he had hoped.

He said he was particularly discouraged because he had taken on extra work to keep the theatre program going in the north. He said it felt like the work of those laid off was not appreciated.

Anderson said he is the only laid-off faculty member who is on track for tenure. He could have gotten tenure at the end of this school year and had already started the process, he said. Now he is worried about his academic career.

The positive side of this is that Anderson has almost a year to find a new job. But the window to apply for university jobs is only a few months long, he says.

Anderson is an advocate for the queer community in the north of the state

Anderson said the chances of him staying in Aberdeen were slim. There weren't enough opportunities in the theater and as an openly gay man and queer activist, he often felt unwelcome. He said some religious students on campus wanted to eliminate his position a year ago.

Anderson, who is open about his views, said he could have been viewed as a troublemaker and has previously called on the administration to do more for queer students on campus.

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There is a grievance process, but Anderson said he doesn't know if he will take that route. He said he has spent much of the last week grieving and is worried not only about himself but about the students and the program he is leaving behind.

Anderson said he was proud of his work at Northern, but knew there were people who didn't appreciate his unconventional approach.

In his view, it will be difficult for Northern to fill his position with someone equally qualified.

“Maybe they’re willing to settle for less because it’s theater,” Anderson said.

He said he was deeply grateful for the support he had received, including from students, since people learned his job would be eliminated.