2009.04.30
Discuss Thursday's commentary and letters
A worrisome comparison
The swine flu has hit the headlines again. As I write this, ground zero seems to be Mexico City, where perhaps 150 have died and where even President Obama may have been exposed. In the U.S., one death has been reported, and cases are appearing in multiple states. By the time you read this on Thursday, the numbers will doubtlessly be worse. Of course, it is too early for undue alarm. At this point we really don't know much. But caution and vigilance are certainly in order, especially since virologists are again openly mentioning 1918. For non-history buffs, that may not mean much. But as a professor of 20th century history and a local historian, hearing "flu" and "1918" in the same sentence is portentous. What happened in 1918-19 was a disaster of global proportions, yet it remains largely an untold story.
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RU didn't get faculty input on changes
Though controversy buffets Radford University at the moment, many faculty members wish to assure our students and the public that Radford remains a vibrant institution, offering superb opportunities to students. Recent administrative actions of the Academic Affairs Division at RU, however, threaten to undermine our excellence by diminishing the essential role that a university faculty must play in governance and in shaping the curriculum.
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Radford controversy is perplexing
After all the rhetoric and protests and open forums and blogging, this is what the review of 29 academic programs at Radford University boils down to: one certificate -- a post-baccalaureate certificate in Appalachian Studies -- that averages only three students a year. As rector and vice rector of the Radford University board of visitors, we are not academics but are proud RU alumni. While we're delighted at the passion displayed by RU students over their academic curriculum, we admit to being a bit perplexed by the controversy that this review process has aroused.
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Read Thursday's letters to the editor.
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I'm going to have to guess that part of why Fraim and Artis have part of the view they have regarding the Appalachian Studies program is that neither are from the area or have significant ties to the region, other than attending RU and currently serving on their Board. However, I do understand the relative insanity of maintaining a program with only 3 graduates per year on average, but I have to ask: if the courses are going to be maintained regardless so students can earn a minor in Appalachian Studies, and there are no significant cutbacks to the course offerings, where are the savings that would occur byu eliminating the degree option? In any major, nearly half or more of the total course load is non major specific, with most majors only requiring 30-45 specific classes within the major. How many of the classes would be eliminated with the proposed reduction? Are the classes currently offered low in enrollment and attendence numbers...or are they relatively full?
My point is this: if the classes are well attended and drawing students to them, even if they don't get a degree in Appalachian Studies, how much money is actually spent in the process of that student getting a degree in it? Honestly, I can't see where there is going to be any notable cost savings unless a large number of course offerings are eliminated, along with the required faculty to teach said courses. Perhaps some additional explanations can be provided, because I'm equally perplexed by the stance of these two and what point they are trying to make.
Comment by Other John — April 30, 2009 @ 10:41 am
Thank goodness that the Radford University Board of Rectors has started a dialogue about the controversial, often idiotic, and sometimes, at their core, illegal actions of the RU administration. One can only hope that as the facts are yet again presented--this time in a public discussion, thank you--that the RUBOV will 1) pay attention to and act upon the facts and 2) make the corrections needed to redirect or turn out this administration that has so damaged a fine university.
The letter from the Rector and Vice Rector today is a stunning demonstration of their failure to understand what they are proported to oversee. This is not all their fault, although they have clearly done the Pontius Pilate thing per most of their duties and responsibilities to Radford University. Since K&K took over RU, the RUBOV receives hundreds or pages of complex information, vital background and programmatic recommendations, from the RU administration at the last minute, before board meetings. Even the traditional two weeks would be insufficinet! However, even more damaging to the contention that the RUBOV oversees what it does not understand is the FACT that they are given erroneous information and very poor recommendations. I won't call that data or the recommendations grand-glorious flights of fantasy and lies, yet. However, what the RUBOV receives are at best unsubstantiated whims of the rich, musings of the uninformed, and misconceptions by administrators of the real nature and mission of university education. What an awful stew is brewing for the students and faculty of Radford University
Now, Mr. Fraim and Ms. Artis what information and recommendations could this be? I promise that you will learn the gory detail from students and faculty as the investigation by the RU Senate and this discussion you have invited unfold. For now, let's just name a few examples that you continue to call out making your failure as the "leaders" of the RUBOV even more evident.
-As said investigation and public discussion will show, the anthropology program was cut without warning or discussion. The Geography programs suffered a similar fate. Although the methods of summary execution were different, the process of expunging the cultural aspects and much of the science from anthropology and geography seem to be the aim. HELLO, without full cultural and scientific context, watered down forensic anthropology and geography, centered solely on the technical execution of data collection and analysis, leaves programs that are a job for our fine technical schools, i.e. producing technicians. RU programs were producing full-fleged scientists that would have needed such technicians on their staffs. Did you know that the Smithsonian Institution alone needs literally hundreds and hundreds of anthropologists and new curators? Do you have any idea how critically important geography in all its facets is to solving problems of global change? Well, you wouldn't, would? You have the insular concepts and words of K&K and the provost to guide you.
-Then there's the poor li'l ole Appalachian Studies Graduate Certificate Program that you and others continue to pick on without mercy. Do you know how many certificate programs there are at RU? I bet not. Do you have any concept of why certificate programs are impoirtant? I bet not. This one, started up in summer 2005, actually has achieved a remarkable record of growth as certificate programs go, but you wouldn't know that--missused and a misrepresented whipping boys are so very convenient for tyrants. Why do so many good deeds or creative initiatives go unpunished at RU? This growing certificate program, that serves to help the region in so many ways, and allows teachers to maintain their teaching certificates, incurs no cost to the university, it only does good and generates tuition.
-The RU Administration with the rubber stamp of the RUBOV has violated external and internal governance regulations and guidelines. No doubt you have all, at least, considered engaging your lawyers? Wonder who K&K would look to?
All this and so much more will be exposed to show you the error of your ways and how you will feel the heat. As an example of the pleasantries to come, have a glance at this link to today's "Inside Higher ED", a national education publication: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/30/programs. Why do you suppose Provost Stanton wouldn't do an interview for this pubication? Might you guess at long last that perhaps, he isn't quite the cock of the walk he portrays when strutting his "stuff" to the RUBOV?
Roudy Red
Comment by Roudy Red — April 30, 2009 @ 12:17 pm