<p>I am starting to study the higher education nitty gritty effects of the budget cuts here in the state of Florida. Although nothing is yet determined, it appears that a wide variety of programs at FSU, as an example, will be discontinued for lower classmen. Obviously they will keep some majors/programs alive for those in the pipeline, but I’m wondering how many frosh and transfers are aware that they may be accepting positions at universities (all across the nation) with plans to study in majors which will be discontinued. Has any other parent helped their student consider these newest developments? I will be sitting down with my S this evening with the communiques I’m able to scrounge together, reviewing the list of majors/programs which are in danger of being discontinued, reduced, merged or restructured.</p>
<p>This is something that concerns me with the program I am in. Currently in the two classes there is a combined 10 students. Now, we will be adding approximately 10 new students for the fall 2009 semester, but then we’ll lose 6 students to graduation in December 2009. My class only has 4 students in it.</p>
<p>Public universities should be focused on value producing majors anyway. Providing tax subsidized art history majors is probably not the best use of funds for public universities.</p>
<p>On a certain level I beg to differ because the public universities are one of the great equalizers in society. If art history (the example) was only taught at elite private colleges, a whole group of young citizens without the wherewithal to enroll wouldn’t have access to the more esoteric fields of study which are at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy. What are “value producing majors” anyway? Do we need to whittle down the offerings to corporate America’s wishlist, for instance? That said, I’m sure that there are huge redundancies in the state school system, and perhaps certain campuses could exclusively offer certain, narrower majors at each particular university. An example: Florida International University has a well regarded hospitality management major - does FSU need one, too? My issue here is that I wish they could make the decisions on which programs will be affected and NOTIFY or make available, the programs they’re sticking with. My son would be affected in his choice of FSU if he wants to be a behavioral psychology major, for example, and they have this major on their list to eliminate. The timing is all wrong, and this situation doesn’t seem to be as well-known as I think it should be.</p>
<p>Caution, investorscooter…FSU may be merging programs and may cancel nothing. This is the legislative season in Florida and there is much political posturing going on.</p>
<p>Consider: <a href=“http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090410/OPINION05/904100321/1006/OPINION[/url]”>http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090410/OPINION05/904100321/1006/OPINION</a></p>
<p>The hospitality program at FSU is the highest rated program in Florida. It is a [top</a> 5 nationally rated program](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University). It will not be discontinued.</p>
<p>You are correct, I certainly may be jumping the gun. I am responding to a “letter” I received from a student representative, outlining what the FSU faculty was wrestling with. However, dollars are so scarce, the legislature is historically education averse, it would not surprise me AT ALL that some programs will be eliminated once the declared majors have gone through. This happened to a Tulane computer engineering student I housed after Katrina. These are not ordinary times.</p>
<p>FSU has a long history of [political</a> activism](<a href=“Florida State University - Wikipedia”>Florida State University - Wikipedia). </p>
<p>One such effort is underway now: [Ameri-Cans</a> at Florida State: ‘Protect Our Professors’ - GMA Mentioned on Air](<a href=“http://blogs.abcnews.com/gma/2009/03/ameri-cans-at-f.html]Ameri-Cans”>http://blogs.abcnews.com/gma/2009/03/ameri-cans-at-f.html)</p>
<p>Yes, I am very impressed with the FSU students; they seem fearless and engaged.</p>
<p>“On a certain level I beg to differ because the public universities are one of the great equalizers in society. If art history (the example) was only taught at elite private colleges, a whole group of young citizens without the wherewithal to enroll wouldn’t have access to the more esoteric fields of study which are at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy. What are “value producing majors” anyway? Do we need to whittle down the offerings to corporate America’s wishlist, for instance?”</p>
<p><em>applauding</em>
Love this!</p>
<p>I just heard that a Florida university has eliminated its Slavic department. I suppose studying Russian–and Russia-- is no longer seen as important or “value producing?”</p>
<p>Until the Legislature comes with a budget that would be considered posturing, Marite.</p>
<p>I don’t know, p2n. That prof sounded devastated. He is taking it very very seriously. If his department is eliminated, he loses his job despite being tenured.</p>
<p>I’ve heard the same, the deans are terrified as well. No one knows what will happen but I cannot believe the Legislature will basically gut the flagship universities. No one or school is immune, but the president is a skilled politician (maybe the one time I’m glad he’s the president) who knows the ropes. He loves the university and will do his best to preserve it. I’ve discussed and written to him about many such things before; I have to counsel a stiff upper lip at this point. I hope it is not in vain.</p>
<p>Just because a university does not have a major in a subject does not mean that they will not offer courses in the subject area. There will be fewer courses offered, and fewer faculty will be needed, but rarely will a liberal arts subject be totally eliminated as a course offering. OTOH, if it is a professional college, like engineering, faculty will not be needed after the current class cycles through their degrees. After Katrina, Tulane cut a number of programs, and some students did have to transfer to complete chosen major.</p>
<p>At the risk of seeming to be rumor-mongering, the letter I received mentioned 21 majors under consideration to be discontinued. Slavic Languages was one of them, so it appears that marite’s professor is in the information loop. It is better to be alert and ready for the hatchets. It is inevitable that something, somewhere, has to be reduced.</p>
<p>Well, every university has fat and dead wood. There are places to restructure, and FSU is focused on STEM and admission to the AAU. I’d suggest some areas will be merged, but likely not cut.</p>