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Community Studies department being cut from UCSC?
People just got word tonight (April 2nd) that Community Studies is being cut from UCSC, likely in order to preserve a budget for the Engineering department and biomed buildings. Apparently, 4th year students should be able to graduate, 3rd year Community Studies majors will be able to complete their degree in a different department, the internship program will be cut, and effective immediately the Community Studies program will begin disintegrating.
An announcement was made today that a student & faculty organized meeting will take place next Tuesday (April 7) at 5:45 in Kresge 321 to talk about this and have some sort of information to share.
http://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/
http://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/
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Seems like the first question that should be asked is what sort of attendance is the department getting. I mean if enrollment has dropped to unsustainable levels then how can UCSC justify keeping the department? If they are taking aim at it because it is an easy target then that is a different matter.
About the American Studies and Feminist Studies. I've heard the idea was to dissolve those programs as well and combine them into something that is cheap for the school.
It seems like every field of study that discusses marginalized communities is getting knocked out so the UC can maintain its students' interests in things like big business, engineering, and upcoming biomedical facilities..
If I wanted to go to a science school like UC Irvine, I would have just gone there. This is disgusting that UCSC is purging itself of anything non-science based on profitability--especially based on some silicon valley wet dream going around that UCSC will be prestigious enough to design new weapons technology.
The economy is fucked and the people who are benefiting right now are also the ones who are making it hardest for the people to help each other. (fuck the regents, fuck the businessmen ideologues)
It's time for action.
It seems like every field of study that discusses marginalized communities is getting knocked out so the UC can maintain its students' interests in things like big business, engineering, and upcoming biomedical facilities..
If I wanted to go to a science school like UC Irvine, I would have just gone there. This is disgusting that UCSC is purging itself of anything non-science based on profitability--especially based on some silicon valley wet dream going around that UCSC will be prestigious enough to design new weapons technology.
The economy is fucked and the people who are benefiting right now are also the ones who are making it hardest for the people to help each other. (fuck the regents, fuck the businessmen ideologues)
It's time for action.
The meeting is 4:45pm April 2, Kresge 321.
I've heard this is during the Community Studies 102 course, so I'm guessing the instructor is taking a section out of class time to talk about this.
(Community studies 102 is the course that prepares students to go out on their field study internship; if the department is cut it's possible that the work completed in this class will be made bunk)
I've heard this is during the Community Studies 102 course, so I'm guessing the instructor is taking a section out of class time to talk about this.
(Community studies 102 is the course that prepares students to go out on their field study internship; if the department is cut it's possible that the work completed in this class will be made bunk)
I want to get more information on the Community studies undergrad being cut. Who could I contact (besides the dean of social sciences--I already did that) to get more information?
I'm not sure the conclusion that community studies is being reorganized in order to preserve science departments is true or fair. For one thing the part of the budget that builds buildings is not fungible with the budget that supports instruction, so there is no way without going all the way back to the legislature to take money from any slated building (note the biomed building is not the only construction program going on, it's just the easiest for you to hate) and give it to a department. The whole budget is getting killed. Some departments are going to do better than others because of outside grants, student interest, or better academic quality.
Blaming others isn't going to make the academic community you live in any more inclined to support you (don't they teach you anything in community studies? Running down your comrades would seem to be a community no-no). Ah well, science is evil, that's what they really teach you isn't it? I thought so. Maybe if the program had produced more recognizable students of quality who really contributed to the community instead of the notorious few who make headlines depriving others of educational opportunities with useless tree sits or scaring professors at home with anti-intellectual demonstrations, things would be different. As far as I can see, a Community Studies major is a weak excuse for a college degree, along the same lines as the Phys Ed majors they hand out at the big football schools. What is the evidence that this department is worth the money? What does it do that can't be done by reorganizing its courses into other departments?
If you think the department is valuable, my advice is to start singing the praises of the positive things it has done (if any) instead of inflaming adversarial relationships within your own university community by claiming that your comrades in education are evil just because they study science. Blaming your problems on others is not a positive community-oriented response.
Blaming others isn't going to make the academic community you live in any more inclined to support you (don't they teach you anything in community studies? Running down your comrades would seem to be a community no-no). Ah well, science is evil, that's what they really teach you isn't it? I thought so. Maybe if the program had produced more recognizable students of quality who really contributed to the community instead of the notorious few who make headlines depriving others of educational opportunities with useless tree sits or scaring professors at home with anti-intellectual demonstrations, things would be different. As far as I can see, a Community Studies major is a weak excuse for a college degree, along the same lines as the Phys Ed majors they hand out at the big football schools. What is the evidence that this department is worth the money? What does it do that can't be done by reorganizing its courses into other departments?
If you think the department is valuable, my advice is to start singing the praises of the positive things it has done (if any) instead of inflaming adversarial relationships within your own university community by claiming that your comrades in education are evil just because they study science. Blaming your problems on others is not a positive community-oriented response.
Can anyone confirm that UCSC might be cutting the American Studies Dept? I was just accepted into the program. What are there plans? It sucks because this comes on the heels of the multiple raises the regents have awarded to themselves while also axing programs and stunting admissions numbers.
We may not like all the decisions they make, but it doesn't help advance the budget discussion to complain about the multiple raises that the Regents have awarded themselves. The Regents are unpaid.
Sorry ... Regents raising salaries for UC executives. Doesn't change the argument or the anger very much. And yes, the regents should be fair fodder to criticize in this situation.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/25/BALI16MDSL.DTL&hw=UC+regents&sn=004&sc=732
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/25/BALI16MDSL.DTL&hw=UC+regents&sn=004&sc=732
What do we expect from the Regents?
They are assholes.
They will take back everything we fought for. It happens all the time.
Stay tough! Community get involved!
They are assholes.
They will take back everything we fought for. It happens all the time.
Stay tough! Community get involved!
weird - the television station for Ventura/Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo covered this. They're calling it the Community Services degree. http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=10142965
I just got off the phone with Joan Peterson, student advisor of the department, and have confirmed the meeting tonight has been moved from Kresge to OAKES 105 and begins at 6. Tell all your friends!
Keep an eye on Community Studies but focus on other issues.
For more information:
http://is.gd/rogS
Meeting took place on April 7th, 2009 at 6pm. Following this meeting was another meeting that is not covered in this reportback. Note, CMMU is an abbreviation for Community Studies.
The Dean is the one pursuing the funding cuts that would demolish the CMMU department. However, the Dean cannot by himself do anything other than start the process. Afterwards, it must go through several different committees and finally the Executive Vice Chancellor has the final decision making power.
As far as students are concerned with finishing their degree; students have “catalog rights” that allow students that haven’t even declared yet to declare CMMU since it was available upon your enrollment. With that said, this may still be difficult since lecturers are not protected by catalog rights and might be shut out of teaching courses integral for the students’ success.
The department is asking for e-mails to be sent to the proper contacts (listed on their website) with a CC to the CMMU@ucsc.edu (CC is carbon copy of the email). Furthermore, they are asking everyone to contact state representatives that can put pressure on the UC administration. The department has created a flyer for organizing details and have posted that on their campaign website as well, a link is at the bottom of the article.
A student lead organization is being formed to fight the cut. You can contact them to get involved at saveCMMU@gmail.com
Many organizations came to support the CMMU campaign including e-squared (engaging education) and a Santa Cruz AIDS project. Also, on behalf of newUC, Emma announced our community forum and expressed our support for CMMU.
One issue raised about the impact of shutting down CMMU included the enormous work done by CMMU field studies into promoting health in the community that might jeopardize a great deal of volunteer work.
CMMU staff encouraged more actions and suggested one around the Alumni Reunion days (around April 26th)
The Bottom Line (as stated by CMMU chair): the UC needs more transparency in its budget cuts.
Save Community Studies Website: http://communitystudies-ucsc.pbwiki.com
For more information:
http://thenewuc.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/a...
The Proposal to Dismantle Community Studies
- The Dean of Social Sciences at UCSC has informed the department that he is "seriously considering" cutting all support staff for the Community Studies Department and "dispersing" the department's faculty to other departments on campus.
- This is no vague threat: the department has been informed by the Dean of Social Sciences that “the accounting has been worked out” to de-fund the program effective July 1, 2009—less than three months from now—and to eliminate its staff and disperse its faculty and programs to other departments.
- Department staff and lecturers are most at risk. While tenured faculty and tenure-track faculty are assured they will keep their jobs and be moved to other departments in this plan, staff and lecturers will be the first to be cut.
- Student's rights will be protected at all costs! Students who have declared the major will be able to go to the field and graduate in Community Studies.
- MOST IMPORTANT: This proposal is by no means final! We need to make sure the UCSC administration understands how important Community Studies is to students, community members, alumni and parents.
For more information:
http://communitystudies-ucsc.pbwiki.com/
The proposal needs to go through a number of Student Senates to actually cut the department from the campus.
The faculty operates in a shared-governance with the administration, which normally is a pain in the ass but in cases like these prevents absolute rule from above.
However, UCSC Executive Vice Chancellor David Kliger has some sort of absolute power to destroy/maintain the department (?).
The faculty operates in a shared-governance with the administration, which normally is a pain in the ass but in cases like these prevents absolute rule from above.
However, UCSC Executive Vice Chancellor David Kliger has some sort of absolute power to destroy/maintain the department (?).
There are so many presumptions, assumptions, and half-truths being posted that it's deluding the value of the conversations, and hence our ability to effect the decision.
Get educated, get activated....but stop the fearandrumor mongering.
Get educated, get activated....but stop the fearandrumor mongering.
April 7, 2009
Statement from UCSC dean concerning proposed budget cuts
Sheldon Kamieniecki, dean of Social Sciences at UCSC, issued the following statement today (April 7, 2009) regarding divisional cuts, including cuts in Community Studies, that he is considering in response to the need to reduce the division's budget by $1.3 million, effective July 1:
"As we prepare to implement what will be painful budget cuts in Social Sciences, misinformation is circulating about the potential impact of those cuts on the Community Studies program.
"Here is what is actually happening:
"As has been reported, UC Santa Cruz faces an estimated cut in permanent state funding for fiscal year 2009-10 of $13 million. This is on top of one-time and permanent campus cuts imposed last fiscal year that totaled over $6 million. The Social Sciences Division will absorb $1.3 million of those cuts in the next fiscal year. A budget reduction of this magnitude will necessarily impact many of our division's undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
"There are no easy choices, and all of the cuts will be painful.
"We are considering eliminating administrative support positions in Community Studies. Administrative support for this academic program will continue, and will be provided by one or more of our Social Science departments. Students enrolled in the Community Studies major — including 2009 frosh who declare that major — are unaffected. They will continue to have a full range of academic support.
"And, contrary to rumors, there has been no decision, or even a formal proposal, to discontinue the Community Studies major."
For more information:
http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/text.asp?p...
“It seems like every field of study that discusses marginalized communities is getting knocked out…”
There is no need for these programs in 2009. Maybe in 1969 but not today. The concerns and issues facing “marginalized communities” can be studied and addressed in political science, sociology, history, etc. Interdisciplinary programs like “American Studies” and “Women's Studies” are a dead-end unless you want to teach in these fields. Try getting a job with one of these degrees and you’ll see what I mean.
There is no need for these programs in 2009. Maybe in 1969 but not today. The concerns and issues facing “marginalized communities” can be studied and addressed in political science, sociology, history, etc. Interdisciplinary programs like “American Studies” and “Women's Studies” are a dead-end unless you want to teach in these fields. Try getting a job with one of these degrees and you’ll see what I mean.
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