NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee colleges and universities dealing with $56 million in cuts this year must decide which of their undergraduate programs are expendable.

At Tennessee State University, its governing board has targeted at least 12 programs that are low producing and in danger of termination next year as part of a three-year review cycle.

The Tennessee Board of Regents has identified a total of 70 such programs.

In 2006, the board cut 18 percent of programs under review and axed nearly 25 percent in 2003, during a budget year similar to this one. Undergraduate degree programs must average at least 10 graduates over five years to avoid the low-producing tag.

Master's degree programs must average at least five annual graduates; doctorate degree programs need three.

Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed the higher education cuts as part of his plan to deal with sharply declining revenues.

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