Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

[wiu712]

WIU Board of Trustees plan meeting to consider staff reduction.

Lead story on last night's KHQA-TV-7 News:
http://khqa.com/news/local/wiu-to-hold- ... -reduction

[ST_Lawson]

[wiu712]

BOT Approves Staff Reduction Authorization. Layoff Notices Going Out on Friday.

From WIU News:
http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php ... e_id=15640

[rocki]

BOT Approves Staff Reduction Authorization. Layoff Notices Going Out on Friday.

From WIU News:
http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php ... e_id=15640

Isn't this basically what Tere has been saying all along? It makes sense to me, anyway.

[vatusay]

“Under the leardership of jack Thomas”

[rocki]

No, that faculty has not been reduced in proportion to the decline in enrollment. We all know Thomas needs to go.

[wiu712]

From Emily Boyer of WIUM-FM:

Today's layoff announcement largely affects UPI Local 4100 members.

But, the BOT Chair says there may be other employee groups affected by layoffs at a later date.

[sealhall74]

I am reserving any judgment until they redefine their academic scope next month. I have always been a bit troubled by our list of signature programs. Exactly what is a signature program in the context of a college or university? Is it one that is popular with the students? Is it one that has some academic rigor associated with it and consequently quite a few students dont make it through but companies really seek out those who do? Most of the references I find label a signature program something like "a program that epitomizes the institution’s mission and define its distinctiveness in the marketplace". I dont currently see WIU putting a lot of emphasis on heath care-related programs so does it make sense that our nursing should be signature status? Sure, we crank out a reasonable number of graduates who will find work opportunities wherever they go. But I would expect a signature nursing program to co-exist alongside several other things like maybe Physical Therapy, Speech Pathology, ... in a comprehensive College of Health Sciences. Our Nursing program exists within the College of Arts and Sciences. Speech Pathology and Audiology is over there in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Somewhat baffling to be there amongst all of those fine arts and theatre folks. If it is there simply because it balances things out amongst existing Colleges, then that is yet another problem that needs addressed. We dont need balance. We need strategic focus.

[Tere North]

BOT Approves Staff Reduction Authorization. Layoff Notices Going Out on Friday.

From WIU News:
http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php ... e_id=15640

It had to have been expected. Fewer students equals less need for faculty. Western simply cannot sustain a 10:1 student:faculty ratio, which is where it was headed this Fall without reduction in faculty. It needs to be in the 15-18:1 range.

[Tere North]

I am reserving any judgment until they redefine their academic scope next month.
Exactly what is a signature program?
We need strategic focus.

Western has 12 signature programs.

• Accountancy

• Agriculture

• Biology

• Engineering

• Forensic Chemistry

• Law Enforcement & Justice Administration

• Musical Theatre

• Nursing

• Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

• Sports Broadcasting

• Supply Chain Management

• Teacher Education

http://www.wiu.edu/academics/signature.phphttp://www.wiu.edu/academics/signature.php provides a bit of insight into why. Of the 12, only Teacher Education is directly related to the mission. IMO, that's the only reason it is listed as it has certainly declined in recognition and respect among teachers and interested future teachers.

I couldn't agree with you more that we "need a strategic focus," but I'm not holding my breath regarding "redefine their academic scope next month."