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43 Programs Affected By UND Restructuring

UND's President Kendall Baker outlined cuts and changes to 43 academic programs. Baker told faculty members his recommendations won't produce big dollar savings. Instead, his restructuring plan attempts to focus dollars and faculty time on strengthening priority programs.

After evaluating 43 programs, Baker chose to eliminate only 13 academic programs. Yet, students still can take classes in the areas that fall on Baker's "discontinue" list.

For example, Baker wants to drop the bachelor of science in education in the following areas: classical languages, French, German, languages, Latin, biology, chemistry, English, geography, mathematics and physics. While the B.S. in education would be deleted, students still could enroll at UND to earn degrees in their specialized areas and complete all the courses they need for teacher certification. Baker also recommended eliminating a minor in Greek and a bachelor of arts in Norwegian. He suggested abolishing the Norwegian major because only one faculty member teaches the classes. Dr. John Ettling, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, wasn't willing to shift money from other programs to expand the Norwegian faculty. UND can't eliminate programs without getting approval from the State Board of Higher Education.

Baker wants to stop admitting new students to major programs in Russian studies, American studies and the humanities and minor programs in Scandinavian studies, Russian studies and women's studies. Instead, he wants a task force to develop a proposal for rolling those academic areas into an interdisciplinary studies program.

He won't eliminate the master of arts degree in political science, because he's directed faculty to develop a more attractive master's program. He also gave the College of Business and Public Administration a deadline of May 15 to increase enrollment in the B.S. in public administration program.

"We are a liberal arts institution" Baker said, which is why he gave the Latin program a reprieve. He suggested that the Latin major be continued, however, he wants a task force to weigh the pros and cons of Latin and classical studies programs. "We're not going to have both”. Either enrollment in the Latin major will be increased or the program should be replaced with classical studies.

Baker said UND and NDSU would finally find the impetus to cooperate. He's calling for collaboration with NDSU for Ph.D. programs in physics and energy engineering.

Baker made his recommendations following an extensive review process on campus. Initially, Marlene Strathe, academic vice president and provost, offered her proposals for restructuring. Those ideas received detailed study by a 12-member faculty committee chaired by Carla Hess. The University Senate also studied the matter. Bev Clayburgh, a Board of Higher Education member from Grand Forks, heard Baker explain the culmination of that work and  said, "The dollar amount to be saved from this restructuring probably is going to be insignificant."

However, the fate of the students depending on those 43 programs is not clear. Some of us may simple have to start from scratch some of the students told us.

Grand Forks Herald, January 14, 1997