Boots & Sabers

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Owen

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0715, 11 Apr 19

UW Stevens Point to Continue to Waste Money on Unnecessary Majors

Not that the majors are unnecessary, but the duplication of availability of them within the UW System is unnecessary. This is the kind of stuff that has caused the cost of higher education to outstrip inflation for decades.

The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point said its 2018 Point Forward plan to scrap 13 majors was an opportunity to be more nimble. Faculty members, meanwhile, petitioned to remove their chancellor and provost and asked if Stevens Point could remain a true university without core liberal arts fields such as history and foreign languages.

At the same time, professors across the University of Wisconsin system looked at Stevens Point as a test case. How would recent changes to state law and system policies making it easier to cut programs and faculty members be exercised in practice? And would other campuses follow? Even beyond the state, the university’s proposed cuts attracted attention and opposition from professors and academic groups.

Now — after already taking seven majors off the chopping block, leaving just six — Stevens Point is cutting nothing. Chancellor Bernie Patterson announced the development Wednesday in a campus memo saying that the “curricular proposals related to Point Forward have been resolved.”

Oh, and it’s clear that the faculty still runs these universities.

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0715, 11 April 2019

23 Comments

  1. jjf

    The story you linked says:

    The cuts weren’t about financial exigency, but rather Stevens Point trying to position itself as a kind of destination campus ahead of projected enrollment declines across Wisconsin. State budget cuts also factored in. 

    And you say…

    Oh, and it’s clear that the faculty still runs these universities.

    Who do you think should “run” a university?

  2. dad29

    Lookie, lookie…..the story cites “enrollment declines.”   The REASON for the declines is primarily the lack of kiddies of the right age.  LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy will show up and argue about that, but facts don’t matter to him.

    This is not too hard to figure out.  UW-SP could disappear, along with 3-4 other 4-year “state college” campuses (Superior and Kenosha are two), and the System would still have plenty of space for qualified applicants.

    Face it:  with Evers in office, no reduction in the education establishment will occur.  Period.  That’s why the decision was made at this time.  And let’s not forget that the Ass’y members from these districts will NOT vote to shut them down, no matter Party affiliation.

     

  3. Le Roi du Nord

    dud:

    No, I won’t argue with you about declining enrollment.  As usual you are wrong.

    But closing Point would be a mistake.  UW-SP, or Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point when I went there, is internationally known for their Natural Resources and Environmental Science graduates, and their Paper Science and Education programs are top-notch as well.  But you are free to belive whatever you want.

    Go Pointers !

  4. Kevin Scheunemann

    Liberals fighting to keep the horse and buggy again.

    Awful, just awful.

  5. jjf

    Educate us, Dad29.  Tell us what makes for a qualified college applicant.

  6. dad29

    internationally known for their Natural Resources and Environmental Science graduates, and their Paper Science and Education programs are top-notch

    Move the programs to Platteville or Green Bay.  Close the rest down.

  7. Le Roi du Nord

    dud:

    Why?  How much would it cost to create the infrastructure already existing in the CNR at GB or UW-P ? GB doesn’t have much for dorms, so you willing to cough up some $$ for housing?    And, if you don’t recall, UW-GB was known as Eco U in the 70’s, but the program was gutted after the then mayor convinced the regents that the Phoenix really needed a D1 basketball team, and cutting the Environmental programs was a way to fund it.

    k:

    Do tell, another uninformed comment from a true-blue denier.

  8. dad29

    LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy.

    Re-creating some infrastructure is NOTHING compared to keeping that entire wheezing pile of bricks running, and paying all those tit-suckers to lecture to 8 kids/class.  Not to mention the pension and retirement health costs.

    And if the Mayor of GB doesn’t like the program, no problem!!  Close UWGB, too.  Another huge waste of resources with Oshkosh just down the street.

  9. Le Roi du Nord

    dud:

    More of your incoherent gibberish and name calling.   But you never did explain why  you think Point should close.  You have a bad experience there?  Too many Blue Bullets at Little Joe’s?

  10. jjf

    It’s simple, Le Roi.  Dad29 can cure all the education troubles with just a wave of his hands.  He Knows All!  It’s like armchair professoring or armchair regenting.

  11. guinness

    The problem started with building all of the extensions around the state to begin with. The only sound reason for doing this would be over capacity Universities. Anybody can come up with plenty of “valid” reasons for doing that, but it was an unnecessary, extravagant expense. As enrollment continues on its downhill slide, some tough choices need to be made. I’m not holding my breath for Madison to make the right ones.

  12. dad29

    You must have studied hard to be so dense, LLLLLEeeeeeeeeeroy.

    Close UWSP (and two or three others) because there are not enough kiddies to fully populate all the UW colleges.  We went through this last time the topic came up here–at which time you argued with me about the decline in college-age cohort.

    The fact that the UWSP admin took a look at dumping majors and the concomitant classes tells me that they’re really, really, weak on enrollment projections.

    Maybe you should go back to school and work on remedial reading and math, this time without the booze.

  13. Le Roi du Nord

    dud:

    Then why not close UW-WW, UW-O, or UW-LaX ?  Close them all?  Enrollment goes up and down everywhere.  Methinks you have something personal against Point….

  14. guinness

    Just curious. When was the last time enrollment went up in any of our colleges?

  15. jjf

    Note we’re not talking about what fraction of kids should go to college, whether we should emphasize enrolling our own residents or those from other states or other countries, what’s the balance with the tech schools, whether the funding model is right, whether our marketing efforts are adequate, etc.

  16. dad29

    As usual, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy, you squawk with no evidence.  Keep SP and close Superior, or Stout, or Eau Claire.  I don’t give a rip….

    But you are certainly a Sensitive ’90’s Guy.  I’ll send you a box of Kleenex while you squawk and snivel over the next common-sense idea..

  17. dad29

    Jiffy, you are absolutely correct.  We are not talking about any of that because it’s a waste of time.  But you’re good at wasting time–so continue if you like.

  18. Le Roi du Nord

    dud:

    I asked you why should Point be closed.  As usual you are non-responsive.  But full of snark and nonsense.  Carry on.

  19. Jason

    >Close UWSP (and two or three others) because there are not enough kiddies to fully populate all the UW colleges.  

    LeRoy can’t read.

  20. jjf

    If if this was a private business with extensive facilities, would you cut your marketing budget and staff if you thought there was a slowdown in sales?  Or would you try to increase your customer base?

  21. dad29

    Jiffy, learn English grammar.  Your “If” demands the subjunctive “were” in the clause.  And your concept of “how to increase kiddie-count” is near madness.  That makes sense, given what we know about you.

  22. jjf

    Thanks for the lesson, Dad29.  I look forward to the moment when you flex  your prescriptivism on any conservative here on B&S.  When I correct someone’s spelling or understanding of science, I’ve heard people complain I’m just being snooty and elitist.

    Again, how did you determine that the porridge was just right?  The seat of your pants?  What makes an applicant “qualified“?

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