11/21/21
FACULTY LETTER TO PRESIDENT HURLEY:
President Hurley,
We the undersigned agree heartily with your aim to make the University of Mary Washington a premier liberal arts institution. We further share your commitment to planning for our future.
We do not agree, however, that hiring a consultant to facilitate in the review of academic programs is the best means to achieve those ends at this time.
First, we are not convinced that creating new programs would require an academic program review that could lead to eliminating existing programs. To date, no evidence has been provided to this effect. We are also not convinced that the enhancement of any existing programs justifies the elimination of another existing program.
Second, we do not believe that now is the appropriate time to begin such a process. We have seen no evidence that this process must begin now. There are, however, two good reasons why—if academic program review were deemed necessary—such a process should begin next year. Such a process would best be undertaken by a new Provost, whom we are currently in the process of hiring. Moreover, if it were conducted next year, such a process might take into account feedback fom the SACS accreditation process.
Therefore, we strongly urge you to:
• Refrain from hiring a consultant at this time.
• Engage a legitimate faculty structure, elected by the faculty in accordance with the University and College handbooks, to study
whether creating new programs and enhancing existing ones justifies an academic program review.
• Refrain from initiating an academic program review until a new Provost has begun her/his tenure and SACS feedback is
available.
We know you understand how important faculty are as members of this community and stakeholders in change of this magnitude. Therefore, we are confident that you will respond to our concerns and implement them immediately.
(click here to see the petition)
Source:
"Faculty Letter to President Hurley." Google Docs. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ab_dxpOJdnQP_dvwMoO15U5-i61EtqesKdYe_HLIgIE/edit (accessed November 21, 2012).
President Hurley,
We the undersigned agree heartily with your aim to make the University of Mary Washington a premier liberal arts institution. We further share your commitment to planning for our future.
We do not agree, however, that hiring a consultant to facilitate in the review of academic programs is the best means to achieve those ends at this time.
First, we are not convinced that creating new programs would require an academic program review that could lead to eliminating existing programs. To date, no evidence has been provided to this effect. We are also not convinced that the enhancement of any existing programs justifies the elimination of another existing program.
Second, we do not believe that now is the appropriate time to begin such a process. We have seen no evidence that this process must begin now. There are, however, two good reasons why—if academic program review were deemed necessary—such a process should begin next year. Such a process would best be undertaken by a new Provost, whom we are currently in the process of hiring. Moreover, if it were conducted next year, such a process might take into account feedback fom the SACS accreditation process.
Therefore, we strongly urge you to:
• Refrain from hiring a consultant at this time.
• Engage a legitimate faculty structure, elected by the faculty in accordance with the University and College handbooks, to study
whether creating new programs and enhancing existing ones justifies an academic program review.
• Refrain from initiating an academic program review until a new Provost has begun her/his tenure and SACS feedback is
available.
We know you understand how important faculty are as members of this community and stakeholders in change of this magnitude. Therefore, we are confident that you will respond to our concerns and implement them immediately.
(click here to see the petition)
Source:
"Faculty Letter to President Hurley." Google Docs. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ab_dxpOJdnQP_dvwMoO15U5-i61EtqesKdYe_HLIgIE/edit (accessed November 21, 2012).