As the budget for Iowa’s universities continues to tighten, it’s not surprising the Board of Regents is looking for ways to stretch every penny, nickel and dime.

We recognize the fact that in times of massive budget cuts, some sacrifices are necessary. But desperate times don’t always call for desperate measures.

At a private discussion at the Board of Regents meeting Nov. 12 at the University of Northern Iowa, regents considered merging “duplicate” programs, or programs offered at more than one university.

The merging of certain duplicate programs could eliminate that curriculum at the other state schools. For example, if the Board of Regents decided to designate the University of Northern Iowa to continue its highly-regarded elementary education program, then the “duplicate” elementary education programs at Iowa State and the University of Iowa would be eliminated.

Although state officials are quick to point out merging programs is still “speculation at best,” just the idea of cutting duplicate programs at Iowa’s universities is a slippery slope we don’t want to venture down.

High school students choose which institution they will attend based on a number of factors — cost, distance from home, student body size, scholarships, relationships and a great deal more.

If the Board of Regents decided to merge programs, many students would have one and only one Regent university option where they could pursue their major of choice. And if a student decided at some point to pursue a different career path, that might mean not only changing majors, but changing universities entirely.

The Board of Regents shouldn’t dictate where a student chooses to attend college. And they certainly shouldn’t force students to potentially bounce around from Cedar Falls to Iowa City to Ames.

But there are greater reasons besides inconvenience the Board of Regents should consider when toying with the idea of merging programs. Thousands of jobs could potentially be lost. And taking a diversity of majors away from a university also takes away from the diversity inside of the classroom.

A group of students with a broad array of majors adds perspective to a classroom. The women’s studies majors in the military science class or the engineering students in a children’s literature class add a valuable dimension you won’t find among students of all the same major.

The Board of Regents needs to take these points into consideration and make every effort possible to avoid mergers and consequent program cuts at Iowa’s universities. It’s part of their covenant with the people of Iowa to maintain the quality and diversity of education, even during times of devastating budget cuts.