Faculty to vote on program recommendations
Following Provost Richard Ice's and the Joint Faculty Senate's recommendations, the Joint Faculty Assembly plans to make their own recommendation on cutting academic programs and faculty on Thursday.
The Academic Prioritization Plan (APP) released earlier this fall continues to be discussed among faculty, students and alumni as uncertainty looms over the future of several programs. Members of the Joint Faculty Assembly (JFA) will have a chance to cast their vote on proposed motions this Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Joint Faculty Assembly meeting. The Joint Faculty Assembly is chaired by economics professor Parker Wheatley.
The JFA and Joint Faculty Senate, as well as the Academic Budget and Planning Committee, chaired by philosophy professor Emily Esch, and the Coordinating Committee for Academic Policies and Standards, chaired by nursing professor Carrie Hoover, are considering suggested course reductions and closures.
The governance committees had 20 working days to craft a recommendation. The JFA is in their 20-day period, with a conlusion of their deliberation on the first round of recommendations to the president due by Nov. 28. Programs associated with this round of recommendations include Asian studies, Ancient and Mediterranean studies, peace studies, philosophy and theater. The final say on the matter will be determined by the president and given to the Boards of Trustees for approval in late February.
Wheatley noted a certain level of disagreement between the recommendation of the provost and the recommendation of faculty committees but emphasized the importance of careful research and remaining impartial in the voting process. The outcome of this process may result in the loss of not only programs, but of faculty. Each committee has taken time to discuss all possible benefits and drawbacks of cutting programs, obtaining as much data as possible to make a well-informed decision.
While students may be dismayed about the prospects of program cuts and the broader implications of these cuts for a liberal arts school, Wheatley emphasized that the assembly is acting in the interest and benefit of students. A large part of the faculty recommendations and discussions have centered around how to strengthen the draw and relevance of program minors to better suit the changing student and college atmosphere.
Amelia Cheever, chair of the theater department, is remaining optimistic about the future of the theater department by focusing on reinvention of the theater minor. While disheartened by the recommendation to cut the theater major from CSB+SJU, Cheever is realistic about the proposal, understanding that low enrollment in the major and increasing interest in programs that lead to greater job opportunities has made theater a sensible target for program closure. Rather than dwelling on the sadness of the department closure, Cheever, a Bennie graduate and theater major herself, is excited about the possibilities of revamping the minor.
“Theater skills are transferrable for a variety of majors,” Cheever said.
Another upcoming vote is for the future of the philosophy major. The JFS has recommended the retention of the major and minor as well as their faculty, while the provost has recommended elimination of the major and reduction of faculty. Erica Stonestreet, philosophy department chair, relayed a mix of cautious optimism and said she is steeling herself for the final decision.
While Stonestreet feels confident that the faculty and community are in favor of the major, she worries whether this will have any impact on the final decision of the president. Like Cheever, Stonestreet also noted the role of philosophy in supplementing other majors and careers.
“The critical thinking skills [are] really helpful in business, entrepreneurship and leadership. Being able to ask good, insightful questions is part of what you learn as a [philosophy] major,” Stonestreet said.
Stonestreet also said the department has received a great deal of support from alumni and students, as well.
“I think people think that [philosophy] is part of the liberal arts package; [it is] one of the big things that belongs in a liberal arts education. It’s an important discipline as part of what liberal arts education is for, so not having it available undermines the idea of liberal arts education,” she said.
Cheever remarked on the value of upholding liberal arts education, too.
“Liberal arts is about learning and using knowledge to gain self-fulfillment in your life,” Cheever said. “It’s easy to be negative, but hopefully our institutions can make wise decisions about future of liberal arts at CSB+SJU.”