The University of Iowa recently proposed that the Classical Languages major--a major focused on the study of Ancient Greek and Latin--be eliminated later this year. The University of Iowa’s stated rationale for this proposal is that the Classical Languages major has fewer than 25 students in it. What this rationale fails to account for, however, is four factors: (1) that the Department of Classics has more than doubled its number of Classical Languages majors over the past year and a half (Fall 2024-Spring 2026), going from 8 to 18; (2) that the Department of Classics faculty were given no advanced warning about this proposal or opportunity to try to further increase the number of Classical Languages majors; (3) that the University of Iowa's Ancient Greek program is among the best enrolled in the country based on data collected last year (e.g., in Fall 2025, elementary Ancient Greek had 26 students enrolled and intermediate Ancient Greek had 15 students enrolled); and (4) that the University of Iowa's Latin program, while not currently boasting the same high enrollments as our Ancient Greek program, has a new director starting in the fall who will be working to bring our Latin enrollments in line with our Ancient Greek ones.

As a Classics professor at the University of Iowa who regularly teaches our elementary and intermediate Ancient Greek courses, I am deeply worried about what the elimination of the Classical Languages major would mean both for our students and for our Ancient Greek and Latin programs. While the University of Iowa claims that our Ancient Greek and Latin courses will continue to be offered, the elimination of the Classical Languages major, if approved, threatens not only to dampen student interest in studying these languages but also to give future university administrators cynical justification for eliminating our Ancient Greek and Latin programs altogether. Therefore, if, like me, you care deeply about the study of Ancient Greek and Latin and want the University of Iowa’s proud tradition of teaching these languages—a tradition stretching all the way back to the institution’s founding in 1847—to continue, join me in demanding that the University of Iowa abandon its proposal to eliminate the Classical Languages major. 

Ἔρρωσθε/Valete,

Justin Vorhis

Assistant Professor of Instruction/Director of Undergraduate Studies

Department of Classics

University of Iowa