Administration cutbacks hit departments hard

This semester, the administration has faced many cutbacks. Some departments, such as Communication, have much larger class sizes. Many part-time professors are also being let go.

This has caused much uproar within many different departments. Dr. Mike Gumpper, head of the Economics department, has been researching the state system and formulated a letter regarding management decisions.

Dr. Gumpper’s letter is working toward being published in The Snapper in the near future.

Many departments have been affected by the cutbacks. A department that has suffered incredibly is Foreign Languages. Budget issues have greatly affected the department’s courses in classical mythology and Latin and Greek terminology.

They have only been able to hire a part-time instructor for most Latin language classes, which is very detrimental. There has also been concern over the amount of majors within the department.

According to Dr. Gaudry-Hudson, the Foreign Language Chair there is a low number graduating students within the next five years.

On December 2, the foreign language chairs from schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education met at the Dixon Center in Harrisburg with Vice Chancellor James Moran, so the issue is very serious and being addressed at an official level.

Class sizes are increasing, and Gaudry-Hudson stresses the fact that “foreign languages cannot be taught in large classes!”

To remain a department they must have a minimum of 30 students of each language, French, German, and Spanish, graduating each year.

At Millersville, Bachelor of Arts degrees and Bachelor of Science in Education degrees are counted separately. “Foreign Languages are becoming an endangered species!” Gaudry-Hudson said.

Despite the major hindrances, the departments are fighting the cutbacks.

Dr. Gaudry-Hudson is currently working with the Foreign Language chair of West Chester to offer joint master degrees in different languages.

Gaundry-Hudson has expressed concern about the low morale of her department. To her, foreign languages are important because “globalization and understanding of other cultures can only be reached through taking our courses and studying abroad afterward.”

In the future, look for a broader range of classes offered in the department, including different majors and minors.