By AARON KREIN
Staff Writer
All eyes and ears were open last Wednesday at the question and answer event concerning the college’s financial crisis. The questions of possible layoffs and cutting programs, especially in the liberal arts, were discussed in Standish A and B. The meeting was hosted by students Sarita Farnelli and Christina Romeo, who intended that the meeting be a “conversation and not a confrontation.”
More than 50 people attended the event, including many concerned students and faculty members who voiced their opinions during the allotted time. The faculty panel consisted of sociology professor Frank Fitzgerald, anthropology and sociology professor Bradley Russell, painting and drawing professor Scott Brodie, teacher education professor Deb Kelsh, English professor Vaneeta Palecanda, psychology professor Kathleen Crowley, history and political science professor Bridgett Williams-Searle, and political science department chair Angela Ledford.
“There was a lot of tension, and it was expected,” said Romeo.
Administrators in attendance included Vice President of Enrollment Management, interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Barbara Schirmer, chief of staff for the office of the president Lisa Haley-Thomson, and interim Vice President of Finance Thomas Maher.
Some of the students who attended, including Student Association president Carly Weller, were disappointed with some of the choices concerning which administrators came to the meeting, specifically those who are only temporarily employed.
Those on the faculty panel claimed that data and market information aren’t the only criteria being used to solve this financial dilemma. The faculty members explained that they haven’t had any input as to the board’s plan.
“We need to know exactly what’s on the table so we know how this impacts you guys,” Russell said about looking out for the interest of the students.
Communications sciences and disorders major Elizabeth Fitzpatrick wanted to know the answers to the questions that she feels students have been repeatedly asking. The biggest: “what programs are going to be cut?”
Haley-Thomson said that the board is currently deliberating over the plan and an announcement should be made at some point during this month. She made it clear that the administration has never said that they don’t value liberal arts programs.
Another student was concerned about what the administration is giving up in this crisis.
“I think it needs to be really clear that the cuts and benefits and compensation effected every employee, faculty, administration, and staff,” said Haley-Thomson. “I think it’s really important to be factual.”
She said that those with a lower income at Saint Rose were less affected than those with a higher income. The staff and administration cut 40 positions last May, and 23 of those were filled. There are some positions that will not be filled, but new positions will be added to health services and enrollment management. Reductions like department consolidation, such as with ITS, and job reassignments have been implemented to help curb expenses.
Another issue brought up was the expansion of class sizes.
“I would like very much to know how it is you intend to raise student population dramatically and cut faculty, and not raise class sizes,” said a concerned student at the meeting.
However, Haley-Thomson interjected that the college is looking for “moderate growth” and has no intention in dramatically increasing the size of the student population. Saint Rose has had a loss of 800 students since 2008, according to Haley-Thomson.
Although private schools are driven by tuition funds, both Maher and Haley-Thomson claimed that the $9 million deficit would not be fixed by student tuition. One of the pledges of the Board of Trustees is to keep tuition for Saint Rose one of the lowest of the private colleges in the northeast region.
“The question of growth is a really important one, because we’ve been told this is a growth plan. That’s been said repeatedly, that it’s a growth plan,” said Crowley.
According to Grondahl, the college is going for a growth strategy, which would enable the college to avoid the other option, of “retrenchment.” The latter choice would lead to increased layoffs and the selling of many of the school’s buildings.
In 2008, 50 percent of students were in the undergraduate teacher education program and today, only 27 percent of the student population is in that major. Grondahl also mentioned that birth rates in New York State are “plummeting” and the high school graduation rate shouldn’t rise for another eight years.
“Let me be really clear on something: this is not in any way something anyone wants to do. This is only because the college is in a very, very serious financial situation. This is impacting everyone, and it is really unfortunate,” Haley-Thomson said.
Another student brought up her concern for the women and gender studies program being cut. According to Ledford, it has always been a program and never a department. It is feared that if programs such as this one are cut, then the diversity that Saint Rose desires will be reduced.Concerns for Sociology, Special Education, and Political Science were brought up at different points during the conversation as well.
A political science major asked if he would still be able to graduate if his program was significantly reduced or cut and if he would have to takes classes in the “teach out” method that Russell explained earlier in the meeting.
According to Russell, “teach out agreements” will have students potentially taking classes at other schools, like UAlbany, to complete their education for a Saint Rose price in order for people to complete their degrees.
Grondahl responded by stating that Saint Rose will try to make sure that the classes students still have to fulfill to earn their degrees are eventually in operation.
After all was said and done, the event was successful in opening the conversation despite a little animosity in the room.
“There will always be tension related to this issue, because we’re still waiting to know what’s going to happen and right now there’s a lot at risk,” said Farnelli.
“We were just trying to hear different sides of the story and give everyone a chance to voice their concerns, even the administrators.”
