Kaya Wagner
Associate Photography Editor
Millersville students have joined together in a fight to protect the physics major, and ensure that it continues to be an option for incoming students.
A group of students and professors have united in an attempt to protect the physics program on campus. All agreeing that physics is essential to the university’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) community.
Kaden Hunter, a math major who added a physics minor after finding enjoyment in it throughout his college career, organized the Millersville Physics Protection and Advocacy Committee (MPPAC) and co-chairs it with fellow student Trevor Winters.
“Millersville is a part of PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) and PASSHE is slowly dwindling their physics and philosophy programs,” said Hunter. “If you want to be a physics major for an affordable price, Millersville is one of the schools to go to.”
What really convinced Hunter to fight to protect the physics program was the impact that its loss would have on students and faculty.
“The disregard for science we are seeing in the United States more and more is really troublesome.” Hunter continued. “To see how it would affect students already in the program, but also the incoming students, and how it affects the faculty.”
Since MPPAC’s formation, the group has not only been fighting for change, but also advocating for the importance of physics as a whole.
Grace Baker, a biology student and member of MPPAC, who got involved with physics by taking courses offered at Millersville, highlighted the importance of physics to STEM and the University as a whole.
“Physics is an important part of any STEM education and it’s a cornerstone of the greater STEM community of Millersville and I think it is important to keep that intact,” she said. “We not only provide a diversified education to our STEM majors but also that we maintain our credibility as an institution.”
Meteorology student Peyton Haroldson agrees with this sentiment, especially the impact that losing physics could have on the meteorology program and his fellow peers. He shared that within the meteorology major especially, students need to have a high level of physics knowledge, and that without physics their department would be crippled. Haroldson also continued citing that he had concerns regarding research opportunities that have been available through the physics department, and that students may not have a chance to partake in these.
The students are not the only ones passionately fighting for this issue, but the professors are as well. Dr. Sean Hendrick, chair of the physics department, hopes that physics will prevail at Millersville.
Hendrick said, “I hope the administration fights this and fights for us.” A sentiment shared by his students along with his fellow faculty members.
Hendrick also shared that the most pressure is coming from PASSHE, the school system that Millersville is a member of. PASSHE outlined that programs need to have 90 students throughout the entirety of a major, with classes containing a minimum of 15 students, and with at least 15 graduates from the major.
Millersville currently has one of the most robust programs, and provides it at an affordable cost to students. All three of the students interviewed agreed that it is important to allow for physics to be an option.
The dean of the College of Science and Technology, Dr. Marc Harris, shared that there are currently no plans to remove the physics major with no final decision having been made to place the B.S. pathway into moratorium, which Harris did clarify later that moratorium is not meant to erase a program, but rework it (within a five year period) and re-introduce the program, almost as if it was new.
When asked about everything regarding the physics program Harris shared, “We’ve been thinking about various strategies to turn it around. The department has been thinking of ways that it can modify its curriculum and make it more accessible and more attractive to incoming students.”
Harris shared that one recommendation given to the physics department included the formation of an advisory board. He also shared that there are attempts being made to increase the visibility of physics and what students can get out of a physics program. Talks have also included the possibility of interdisciplinary programs and course sharing.
Hendrick also mentioned the possibility of interdisciplinary paths or merging with another STEM department. He said, “Conversation over the last few years involved possibly merging physics with another department. Leaving the impression that the physics degrees would survive and our modest graduation numbers would count towards our new department. Similar to how earth science is a combo of the dominant meteorology program, but also includes the much smaller geology and oceanography programs.”
MPPAC students have taken steps as an organization towards protecting the physics program. The group has organized a petition on Change.org. They have also written and presented a proposal to the dean of the College of Science and Technology, Harris, and the provost, Dr. Gale Gasparich.
Hendrick said, “I hope the administration fights this and fights for us.” A sentiment shared by the students along with his fellow faculty members.
