There is mounting anger among staff and students at the closure of the Centre for Cultural Partnerships at the Victorian College of the Arts, with allegations that students mid-degree have been left in limbo.
Two weeks ago Melbourne University announced the centre would close at the end of the year. The centre conducts research into community and social engagement in art practice.
"People are suffering, they're booking counsellors, we've maxed out the university's counselling services," Margie Mackay, a PhD candidate and lecturer at the centre, said.
The centre was established in 2008 with philanthropic funding for its first six years. Other universities offer similar studies but not at graduate level.
Ms Mackay said there was "absolutely no consultation on the full potential of the centre and its potential to galvanise the VCA community".
"We would like to be consulted to consider future models that would be economically viable."
VCA faculty dean Barry Conyngham said the university had consulted stakeholders and the main problem was a lack of enrolment.
"The judgment here is that after three years of looking at the program we felt the way it was structured wasn't the right one," he said.
"I'm not aware of any partnership that would cure the fundamental problem – which is a lack of demand for these courses."
Thirty-three masters students and 16 graduate students enrolled in coursework at the centre will continue to receive teaching up to the completion of their degrees, Professor Conyngham said.
Students undertaking research degrees may however experience a change in supervisors, he said, with some staff contracts ending this year.
"We're a very big university and ... we would hope that the University of Melbourne has more than enough capacity to give absolutely appropriate supervision [to students]," Professor Conyngham said.
The VCA plans to absorb some subjects into its other fine arts courses, he said.
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