Consolidation and Removal of Programs of Study

[asutrnr81]

The following is a copy of an email I just received:

To: Appalachian State University Faculty and Staff

From:
Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, Chancellor
Dr. Lori S. Gonzalez, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Date: March 4, 2014

Subject: Program Prioritization Plan

With grateful appreciation, we thank the members of the Academic Policies & Procedures (AP&P) Committee for their thoughtful evaluation of the recommendations presented in the Academic Program Prioritization report. Their discussion and consideration are highly valued, as this is such an important and challenging task charged to both Appalachian and our sister institutions within The University of North Carolina. We have reviewed their recommendations and now present our decisions.

As you recall, Appalachian’s Academic Program Prioritization planning process began with a conversation between the Faculty Senate and the Provost in December, 2011. It was then determined the Campus Planning Committee would provide guidance on the metrics to be used to evaluate programs. We wanted to ensure inclusivity and faculty involvement and embarked on a two-year process of accumulating data from faculty within the units; discussing issues at numerous meetings; involving faculty work groups at the graduate and undergraduate levels; and, reviewing outcomes and the process with the campus. Once data accumulation was complete, the deans voted on their programmatic priorities, and again, in the interest of transparency, their priorities were shared with the campus community. Based on the process to date, an initial plan was put forward soliciting feedback and additional input on the recommendations for program consolidation, elimination or other action. (This process is summarized on the Institutional Planning, Research, and Assessment website).

As stewards of public resources, we are expected to make challenging decisions. Several of the programs under consideration have consistently been identified on the UNC low enrollment review lists for multiple cycles.

We appreciate the leadership of the AP&P committee members, and the recommendations that emerged from their meeting on February 19, 2014. They supported two recommendations from the report dated December 16, 2013, and we affirm these original recommendations:
Elimination of Master of Arts in Music Education; and,
Elimination of Master of Arts in Gerontology.
Additionally, we accept the following recommendations put forth by AP&P:
Consolidation of Business Education, Family & Consumer Science and Technology Education into a single program, Career & Technical Education. Decisions about how these programs will be consolidated and where they will reside will be made through discussions with the faculty of the units and the deans of the respective colleges; and
Allowing the Master of Arts in Romance Languages to continue for two years. The conditions of this continuation will be established in consultation with the program, the graduate school and the dean.
Other recommendations in the December 16, 2013, Academic Program Prioritization plan will stand as presented. These recommendations include elimination of the following programs:
Master of Arts in History, Education;
Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten; and
Master of Sciences in Criminal Justice & Criminology. We recommend this program become a concentration in the Master of Public Administration degree program.
This plan will be shared with the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees, UNC System President Tom Ross and following his direction, with the Board of Governors.

The realities of the new era mean that we must succeed in different ways. One of those ways is by more regular and prudent review of all of our university activities and expenditures. We must prioritize, and a systematic schedule and process for academic program review must be part of our institutional strategy.

Again, we thank the members of the AP&P Committee for their work and leadership, and we recognize the efforts of everyone involved during this two-year process and respectfully thank them as well.

[appdaze]

How were these fields chosen for eradication or consolidation? What were the criteria?

I find it hard to believe that Appalachian is eliminating a masters in history education. Are we not supposed to be the college of teachers? Eliminating the masters of music education? Are we not one of the top music programs in the southern region as well as education? But we hold on to the masters of romantic languages for 2 more years

I know we had a thread on this a few months ago but it still amazes me that money couldn't be funneled away from some personal pork that I'm sure is floating around App like it is at most universities.

[appgrouch]

How were these fields chosen for eradication or consolidation? What were the criteria?

I find it hard to believe that Appalachian is eliminating a masters in history education. Are we not supposed to be the college of teachers? Eliminating the masters of music education? Are we not one of the top music programs in the southern region as well as education? But we hold on to the masters of romantic languages for 2 more years

I know we had a thread on this a few months ago but it still amazes me that money couldn't be funneled away from some personal pork that I'm sure is floating around App like it is at most universities.

Part of it was the enrollment of these programs, the number of duplicate programs in the state and the future enrollment/job availability in these fields.

When the state stopped the bonuses for masters degrees for teachers that cut a great deal of our potential master's candidates. The English department made a real big deal out of the Romantic program.

[Gonzo]

We're being forced to cannibalize while the policy makers in Chapel Hill enjoy an endless buffet of undergraduate, graduate, and PhD level programs.

[Maddog1956]

I was kind of shocked about some of them (i.e Master of Sciences in Criminal Justice & Criminology), but I guess when you ask do we need a whole masters program for some of these the answer could be, maybe not. Do many in law enforcement, for instance, get master degrees in CJ&C? Most I know get training locally while OJT and as they move up they need more management. And it is being rolled into PS, which actually may be a better route at the master level anyway.

The same for Master of Arts in Music Education, it's not that it's not important but if there is only about 600 music teachers in NC, how many could possible be going for their masters at anyone time, because they can start their careers without a masters.

I really think the same about masters in history education, if there will still be a Masters in History. I think some degrees are a pissing contest between colleges and there isn't much difference between the programs.

I do think however they do need to keep certain regional programs even with small class sizes, or else people from the region won't have anywhere else to go, or the program will not be offered outside the region.

[goapps93]

I think we also have to consider how many working adults are studying for masters degrees that are offered online. I know that App's MSCJ degree was not offered through distance education. How many law enforcement professionals from outside the region can afford to leave their job to go to ASU as a resident student and how many in the region are looking to get that degree. Universities that are offering Graduate Degrees online through distance education are making it hard for those who aren't offering them online.

[appbio91]

Sure this will get deleted but McCrory signed a bill that eliminated the supplemental pay for teachers with a masters degree. So what's the use......BTW we are in a very elite group of states that does not recruit and pay teachers with masters degrees more. Exactly one state NC.

[JCline0429]

Sure this will get deleted but McCrory signed a bill that eliminated the supplemental pay for teachers with a masters degree. So what's the use......BTW we are in a very elite group of states that does not recruit and pay teachers with masters degrees more. Exactly one state NC.

Why would it get deleted?

[Maddog1956]

Sure this will get deleted but McCrory signed a bill that eliminated the supplemental pay for teachers with a masters degree. So what's the use......BTW we are in a very elite group of states that does not recruit and pay teachers with masters degrees more. Exactly one state NC.

To leave NC. It's very easy for many, many teachers to step over the border to SC,VA, TN, GA. NC will end up with the teacher they pay for. Don't forget the boost in pay for ... beginning teachers!!!! That will be who comes over the NC borders to work in our schools. Let's make a push to hiring the least qualified teachers we can get.

[appst89]

It won't get deleted, but it could get moved to the Politics folder if it keeps going in that direction. I get more feedback from members about keeping political threads off the main board than all other subjects combined.

[Maddog1956]

It won't get deleted, but it could get moved to the Politics folder if it keeps going in that direction. I get more feedback from members about keeping political threads off the main board than all other subjects combined.

Fair enough but in my case it was an explanation for the reason for less of need for Master level programs. If employers don't reward for master degrees then less teachers will be seeking them and it does seem like most of the programs hit were in the Ed department.

[MountainMan]

Good move to consolidate and eliminate some programs. IMO, there are probably another 20+ that should go.

All schools in the system are consolidating and eliminating some programs. Granted there is more excess in some places (e.g., Chapel Hill) than others, and the pressure is not necessarily the same everywhere, but over the years things get added much more frequently than eliminated. It sometimes takes some arm-twisting from above to get schools to cut back on low-demand programs and those that are duplicated many times across the system.

Before just looking at a program title and saying "why did they eliminate that?", folks should go dig through the ASU Fact Book (Online at IRAP - ASU) and look at how many programs have less than 10 students enrolled and/or have less than 5 folks graduate in a year -- sometimes only one or two. We, and other universities simply cannot be all things to all students. I think that several schools in the system have eliminated/consolidated more than App -- I think I've seen that, but can't find examples just now.

JMO.