Some students think the College of Arts and Sciences’ planned cutbacks of instructors without terminal degrees will be detrimental to freshman-level education.
According to the plan, 30 of the 40 math instructors will be fired, as will 40 of the 60 English instructors. As a result, entry-level English and math classes will increase in size.
English instructor Daniel McNamara guided in-class discussions Tuesday on the issue in all of his three classes. He gave an in-depth description of the A&S plan to freshmen in his English 1001 class and asked them what they thought about it.
Biology freshman Christen Heaton said though the University is trying to achieve the Flagship Agenda, she thinks the University is not bad the way it is.
“We are a great school,” Heaton said. “But we’re a school of tradition.”
Psychology freshman Katie Paine said the end result of the plan will be negative.
“They are trying to make students smarter, but what they are doing is taking the contact out of everything,” Paine said.
In Free Speech Alley on Monday morning, students held signs and handed out papers in an attempt to increase on-campus awareness of the A&S plan.
Elementary education sophomore Courtney Dumas said she will not be personally affected by the three-year plan but, she still cares.
“Even though it might not affect us, it’s going to affect people we know – next year’s incoming freshmen,” Dumas said. “That’s why we’re out here.”
Like others, her main concern was for the students who will not get attention they need because of the size of classes.
“In Math 1021, I don’t think I would have passed the class if I wouldn’t have been able to talk to my teacher on a regular basis,” Dumas said.
She said some of her instructors have been better than her professors with doctorates.
Dumas and other students in Free Speech Alley handed out papers telling students to call Dean Jane Collins if they are opposed to cutting staff in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Other students around campus expressed concern about the lack of contact between students and instructors.
Communication studies sophomore Denelle Walker said class size is something students look at when choosing their future universities. By eliminating the instructors, the University will lose some of the people who make it unique, Walker said.
“I think that prospective students will be worried about large entry-level classes,” Walker said. “Small class sizes comfort students.”
Mass communication senior Devin Denicola said he also believes in smaller class sizes. He said though the plan will not affect him directly, he does not think the plan is fair for students or instructors.
“I know for math, it’s harder for me to grip it, and I would prefer smaller classes,” Denicola said. “I also think they should have given the professors more warning.”
Students said larger classes also mean more intimidation and fewer answered questions.
Mass communication junior Monique Foreman said that in a class of 200 people, students would be more intimidated to ask questions. When and if they found the courage to raise their hand, Foreman said, there would be no way for a professor to answer all questions and their follow-ups.
Undecided freshman Victoria Frosch said the classes she is in right now are already too big.
“You can’t have class discussions with 200 other people,” Frosch said.