Regents call for UL philosophy program termination
The Louisiana Board of Regents has 87 university, community college and technical college degree programs in its crosshairs and is calling for the programs to be terminated due to low completion rates. The list includes the bachelor of arts in philosophy program at UL Lafayette. “The state must invest in programs that have a proven track record of success,” said Board of Regents Chairman Artis Terrell in announcing the body’s decision.
The Board of Regents also identified six programs at UL that should be conditionally maintained and then re-evaluated in three years: bachelors of science in geology, dental hygiene and professional land management; master of arts in French; master of science in physics; and the doctoral program in cognitive science. The only program at UL the board recommended be maintained is the bachelor of science in athletic training.
The programs on the potential chopping block were identified by the board in January and higher education institutions were given an opportunity to respond and to make their own recommendations on the programs. UL Lafayette recommended that all eight programs be maintained.
... written by Lucky to Live HERE , April 23, 2009 - 12:38 pm
Let's all give a cheer for football revenue! Apparently, this is ALL the state cares about and it's a low down dirty shame.
... written by Mark , April 23, 2009 - 01:00 pm
The low completion rate shows philosophy is more challenging than most people think. Perhaps that is because most people do not want to think, and the failed students turned to philosophy because they saw an easy way out, when it is perhaps the most difficult of any discipline because you have to learn and synthesize everything. They should ask whether their university wants to produce thinkers or not. If they want people to think, philosophy should be required for everyone. Logic, critical thinking, politics and the basis of law, the understanding of being; these skills apply to every academic discipline and walk of life.
... written by Michael , April 23, 2009 - 03:25 pm
Can anyone publish a link or the list of the programs cut? When will they cut redunant schools like consolidate UNO and SUNO?
... written by Walter Pierce, Managing Editor , April 23, 2009 - 03:36 pm
Michael, following is the link to the complete list of low-completer programs for each campus, as identified by the Board of Regents: http://www.regents.state.la.us...tem III - Low-Completer.pdf
Please note: The press release from the board uses terms like "recommends" and "should be terminated." It's unclear whether programs "recommended" for termination will actually be terminated. As my blog today indicates, UL wants to maintain the philosophy program.
... written by Philosophy Supporter , April 24, 2009 - 03:21 pm
Steve Roberts was quoted elsewhere that the university was going to try to maintain the degree program by folding it into another program. The simple reality is that they can't cancel the classes currently taught, because they're needed by the rest of the liberal arts college, cognitive science doctorate, and even computer science disciplines. So terminating the degree program is irrelevant, since most of the staff are now tenured. Some may migrate to other departments. The Committee under the Board of Regents that ruled on this had a BS reason, stating roughly that there was diminshing interest in this program amongst college students nationwide. Hmm. They further seemed to acknowledge UL's attestation that this program is required for a Doctoral institution. I wonder what the vote of the former SGA member who sits on the panel was. Has anyone added up the vote total, of who voted to terminate, and what their public statements were, or where they were getting advice from, or what was in the briefing books they were given?
Something just doesn't make sense here. Most of the low completer programs the committee recommended for termination came with the consent/agreement of the respective university. Those other programs that were marginal were conditionally extended.
Sounds like some good investigative news needs to be done to find the answer.
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