Kirkwood Community College ending horse sciences program

CEDAR RAPIDS — One credit program at Kirkwood Community College is no longer accepting new students.

Administrators say rising costs and fewer students led to the decision to end the school's horse sciences curriculum.

Those currently enrolled can still graduate, but the community college stopped accepting new students on Monday.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Bill Lamb said a decade ago about 80 students were enrolled. Now, he puts the number at about half that. Lamb says changes in the industry have also made it harder on graduates.

'The nature of the industry itself has changed a little bit, there's not as many options for employment as there were 10 or even 15 years ago,' he said.

When the horse sciences classes end, Kirkwood will be able to schedule more events for outside groups at its equestrian center.

As students leave, the school will sell off a herd of 30 horses.