DAN ORZECHOWSKI
Assistant News Editor
Each department within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is preparing for significant scheduling changes and curricula adaptations. Right Serving, Right Sizing (RSRS), the plan initiated by President Virginia Horvath, is expected to help combat Fredonia’s low enrollment.
In a RSRS report, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Joseph Andy Karafa explained that departments could potentially undergo course deletions, curricular changes and program mergings.
“[RSRS] is not code for downsizing,” said Karafa. “A few areas within CLAS are investigating new majors.”
Karafa believes that RSRS has led to new opportunities. He explained that student expectations and industry demands are more likely to be met now that “things have been streamlined to decrease time to degree” and that “curricular reconfigurations are in the works.”
In the same RSRS report, Karafa cited the Philosophy Department as a potential place for reorganization. Due to its “steadily declined” enrollment, he wrote that “an examination of merging this department with another within CLAS is worth consideration.” Karafa noted that at this stage, “such a review is only a recommendation.”
In a memorandum response, Stephen Kershnar, the chair of the Philosophy Department, strongly opposed a department elimination, which according to Kershnar “would be the result of the sort of merger Dean Karafa describes.”
Between the Fall of 2011 and 2016, CLAS has seen a 24 percent decrease in undergraduate enrollment. Multiple departments, including Philosophy, have paid the price.
Since 2008, the Philosophy Department has averaged 33 majors per year. This year, there are 19.
Kershnar said that the elimination of the department’s introductory course in the lecture hall setting is a large factor to the enrollment dilemma. According to Kershnar, the course elimination, a move made by administration, stripped the department of its “best recruiting tool.”
The savings from a Philosophy Department elimination would be marginal, according to Kershnar; in the short term, they would amount to $13,000 per year. Kershnar said “there is no need, financial or otherwise, to eliminate philosophy.”
Neil Feit, a professor in the Philosophy Department, echoed Kershnar’s opposition.
“The result of a merger would mean that philosophy professors would work in a department where the chairperson is not a philosopher or, perhaps eventually, vice versa,” said Feit. “A non-specialist chairperson lacks the expertise to oversee philosophy courses, assess the philosophy curriculum and oversee the hiring of philosophy instructors.”
Philosophy’s five-year plan for RSRS includes increasing enrollment, continuing research productivity and developing interdisciplinary courses. Particularly, the department will focus on providing high quality instruction in a “diverse array of classes” to tackle low enrollment.
While Kershnar thinks that “there is little reason to believe that [enrollment] will remain down,” Karafa thinks otherwise.
“This is, unfortunately, a national trend for the humanities,” said Karafa. Despite the obstacle, Karafa offered a silver lining. “That said, I see exciting things coming out of the humanities at Fredonia.”
As examples, he said that “World Languages and Cultures is working on a significant revision of its curriculum, which I believe will make it much more relevant and competitive. History is looking to integrate applied, hands-on learning opportunities throughout its curriculum.”
Even though there may not be a department elimination, Karafa assured that “if a department or major were eliminated, those students currently enrolled in the major would be allowed to complete their degrees.”
While defending their department, Kershnar and Feit both referred to the Philosophy Department’s graduate placement. Kershnar listed numerous “top notch” law schools and philosophy programs that Fredonians have went on to pursue. Programs at Indiana, Syracuse, Arizona Law and Wake Forest Law are just a few, according to Kershnar.
Feit said that “it must also be recognized that merging the department would jeopardize future success in placement, for several reasons. For one thing, the letterheads and titles of professors who recommend students for programs would be compromised.”
Ryan Norton, a senior dual major in philosophy and English, is also hesitant about a possible department merge.
“I think that if they found the right department to merge with, it might make sense,” said Norton. “But, as someone that’s in both English and philosophy, those are very different departments. They have totally different tones. They have different styles of teaching and interacting with students.”
Norton labeled his philosophy professors “some of the best” he’s ever had. Norton also admitted that philosophy isn’t among the most popular majors, but according to him, philosophy made him feel like he fit in.
Still, in Karafa’s eyes, RSRS will lead to better curricula.
“Specifically, I believe that we will have created degree programs that will appeal to prospective students, employers and graduate or professional programs. I am very pleased with how well the faculty tackled this difficult process.”