STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A group of faculty and students trying to find ways to save some liberal arts courses and programs at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point has been given more time to consider their options.
The group has been meeting twice weekly since Sept. 5 to develop a curriculum plan that addresses fiscal challenges and serves students’ academic and career goals. The Academic and Budget Advisory Work Group includes all five deans, 10 faculty members and two members of the Student Government Association. It is the latest of several committees that have explored ways to best meet the needs of current and future students and the communities in Northcentral Wisconsin.
Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Greg Summers, who has been leading the group, says they just need more time to consider all options.
“We have sought to be transparent and deliberative throughout this process,” Summers said in a release from the University. “We’ve engaged faculty and shared governance groups in constructive dialogue as we consider a range of suggestions and models. While the final decisions will not be easy, we will afford a full opportunity for an exchange of ideas.”
The group was the idea of an earlier committee led by Mick Veum, a professor of Physics at the University. His group was examining ideas such as combining programs and majors to “do more with less” as a means of saving the University money while saving as many courses as possible.
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Currently, no final decision has been made on what to do with the dozen or so programs that were slated to be discontinued or re-structured under the original plan. Which was released last spring and led to protests from both students and community members.
A tight budget is nothing new for the University as of late. Enrollment has dropped to just over 7,700 students while its cash reserves have shrunk to just under two million dollars. There is also the potential that up to 60 or 70 full-time staff positions could be eliminated as well, a report on that is due out in the near future as well.
