At the same time, a local university, about 30 miles from the New Madrid
Fault, which for many years had an excellent earthquake studies part of
there geology department, will have no more geology department at all
once the current juniors and seniors graduate.

That could be wise. Producing more students doesnt guarantee more jobs
or more research. Industrial geo jobs have declined dramatically (70%)
in the past 20 years. Money remained relatively flat, but the quality
experiments are more expensive.