After news broke that the College of Arts and Sciences will be eliminating a number of instructors during a period of three years, Student Senators and Student Government Executive Officers began expressing their opinions and concerns about this issue.
Arts and Sciences Dean Jane Collins sent out a faculty memo Oct. 20 explaining that the planned cut-backs of instructors without terminal degrees, doctorate and Master’s of Fine Arts, are part of the college’s efforts to keep up with the University’s Flagship Agenda and increase research productivity.
“I have asked the Department of Mathematics and the Department of English to prepare to reduce the number of faculty at the rank of instructor and to increase the number of tenure-track faculty, while maintaining instructional quality and capacity,” Collins said in the memo.
Since the announcement, students and faculty members have expressed a variety of concerns and complaints.
Members of Student Government and the Student Senate, who are elected and appointed to represent the general student body, have a deeper understanding of the issues because they often act as a liaison between the students and the administration.
Jimmy Vermaelen, SG director of academic affairs, said the College of Arts and Sciences is receiving more money from the University and is putting it toward hiring professors with terminal degrees. He said at the end of the three- or four-year period, there will be more teachers in the department than there currently are.
Vermaelen said the Flagship Agenda stresses the need for more research professors because they bring more money to the University and gain prestige for the University.
“In the way LSU is viewed among other institutions, research is a big deal,” Vermaelen said.
Vermaelen said he is worried that many students have not received the entire message.
Lori King, an English and political science junior and Arts and Sciences student senator, said she is concerned about the lack of communication the administration has had with the University community about this topic.
King said students are worried because too many of their questions have been left unanswered.
“I don’t see [the administration] looking at it from the standpoint of students who are already here at the University,” King said.
While King said she agrees the move to professors with Ph.D.s is “something that has to be done,” she also is concerned that administrators have not publicly addressed issues including class size and personal attention from faculty members.
King said she is concerned that the College of Arts and Sciences will experience a “roller coaster ride” during the transition time when the University is simultaneously losing instructors and looking for professors with terminal degrees.
King said she considers herself lucky enough to probably not be affected by these changes but is worried about the incoming freshmen in future years who take English 1001 and 1002.
In response to the student concern, King and other senators possibly will draft a resolution recommending that the administration provide a better explanation of the situation to the University community.
Brandon Smith, a political science and international studies junior and another Arts and Sciences senator, said many students see both sides of the issue.
“While I understand the grievances that we’ll be losing instructors in the classrooms, I also see the need to raise the academic prestige of the University,” Smith said.
Smith also said it is important for students to know more about this issue.
“As Student Government, it’s our responsibility to take proactive measures to make sure students are informed,” Smith said.
Jason Wesley, SG vice president, said there has been a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication among students, faculty members and administrators concerning this topic in the past week.
Wesley said students know the administration is focusing on the Flagship Agenda and trying to improve the University, but they may not understand why the administrators are doing this and why this has to affect the instructors.
Wesley admitted that SG does not know all the details, but members are making a tremendous effort to educate themselves and the overall student population about this issue.
Vermaelen said students should not form their opinions until they know all the facts. Students will have a chance to learn more about the issue at the Nov. 6 “Chat with the Chancellor.”
Wesley said November’s chat will focus broadly on academics and specifically on the Flagship Agenda and the instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences. The forum will be open to anyone who would like to come.
The forum not only will allow the Chancellor and other administrators to explain, but also will allow other University community members to ask questions and express concerns, Vermaelen said.