Almost half of 2021 courses offered at La Trobe University's Albury-Wodonga campus will be based solely online, with the institute focused on becoming "smaller" in response to the financial fallout of COVID-19.
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In its recently released strategic plan, the university committed to keeping all its regional campuses open but said job and course cuts were "unavoidable".
The 2021 course portfolio put forward as part of the Albury-Wodonga Campus Plan reveals nine courses will be offered on-campus, 17 courses will be offered "mixed mode", which combines campus and online teaching, and 23 courses will be online-only.
La Trobe vice chancellor John Dewar said the changes were in response to desire in the market for greater choice and flexibility.
"We've been receiving positive feedback from students on our innovative and engaging approach to online learning," he said.
"If we can provide students greater flexibility and choice in how, when and where they study, and this entices more students from across the country to commit to higher education - including in rural and regional areas - then we have achieved an important part of our mission."
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In the next decade, the university will focus on becoming smaller and courses deemed not financially sustainable will be suspended.
La Trobe's 2020-2030 Strategic Plan states up to 25 per cent of revenue could be lost by the end of 2021 and recovery could take five years.
"We cannot continue teaching activities that do not add to the university's reputation or financial sustainability; neither can we continue to support all areas of research from university resources," the plan says.
The university would not say how many job losses were expected.
A university spokeswoman said staff would be offered voluntary redundancies or redeployment before any involuntary redundancies occur.
"La Trobe University remains focused on saving as many jobs as possible," she said.
"Proposed course and subject changes in the school of mumanities and social sciences are proposals only at this stage and potential impacts will depend on the outcomes of the consultation."
Professor Dewar said in 2021 the Albury-Wodonga campus would offer a Diploma of Health Sciences for the first time, which would allow students to transition into nursing, health science and social work degrees.
He said research at the campus would focus on rural aged care, freshwater research and water management, food, agriculture and environment, health and well-being.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
