Effects of cuts at UNI under-reported, faculty leaders say

There are significant number of errors and inconsistencies in the academic program cuts proposed by the University of Northern Iowa administration, UNI faculty leaders said in an email Monday.

The cuts would have a domino effect that impacts the education of virtually all students at UNI, faculty leaders argue in the email.

"The effect of cutting 25 percent of UNI programs is enormous and unprecedented," leaders with United Faculty said in the email. "Attempts to downplay the effect should be challenged."

UNI officials in announcing the cuts in recent weeks said the 77 programs targeted for closure or restructuring had very small numbers of graduates over the past five years. The state Board of Regents will consider the cuts at a meeting Wednesday in Iowa City.

The United Faculty email notes several programs and gives the current number of student majors and minors.

Some of the examples noted in the United Faculty email include:

* Anne Lair, director of French studies, and Siegrun Bubser, director of German studies, say departmental records and numbers provided by the UNI Registrar's office show there are 55 students with a declared major or minor in German and 56 students with a declared major or minor in French. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the faculty in French and German taught more than 1,200 students. The university has not addressed the issue of how students in these programs will continue and complete their major or minor degrees in fall 2012.

* Geology and Earth sciences department head Siobahn Morgan said there are 29 students who are formally declared geology majors. Biology majors usually must take coursework in either physics or Earth science, with both programs facing major reductions in faculty. There has been no information about how upper administration will address this potential bottleneck, faculty leaders say. The cuts in staffing within geology will negatively impact the Earth science department's ability to offer content courses needed by elementary education majors as well as science teaching majors.

* According to Betty DeBerg, former department head in philosophy and world religions, the proposal to layoff or force resignation of four tenured faculty represents 33 percent of the faculty in philosophy and religion. There are 47 students with a declared major or minor in world religion and 58 with declared major or minor in philosophy.

* Closing the physics bachelor's of science is a "radical and nearly unprecedented decision for a school the size of UNI," faculty leaders say. A physics bachelor of science degree is the strongest and by far the most popular degree in the department, they say. All undergraduate courses taught by the physics department have 10 or more students. There are 73 physics majors and nine physics minors, and 80 percent of the majors are bachelor of science students.

"It is important to note that the numbers of graduates for many programs that are slated for elimination or suspension are well above average compared to similar universities, and cutting such programs will make UNI far out of step with similar universities," United Faculty leaders said in the email. "Faculty are united in their concern that the curricular implications for students in the programs or for students in programs that rely on the courses have not been fully considered."