A Message from the President
June 28, 2010 - Program Review Update
As was shared in a campus message on June 17, based on the recent review of academic programs, the first recommendations for program termination were our French and French education baccalaureate degrees. At its meeting last week, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System approved our recommendations to terminate these programs.
While we regret having to terminate any degree program, the realities of our current and projected financial circumstances make it likely that further degree program terminations, along with other organizational and programmatic changes, will be made in coming months.
As a result of the magnitude of the financial challenges facing our State and higher education institutions, the Board is also considering several changes to its Rules and Policies that would provide institutions with the ability to realize significant savings more quickly in the event of program terminations and reductions.
While UL System Rules and Policies dealing with financial exigency, program discontinuance and faculty termination notification already exist, there are important changes under consideration, particularly where termination notifications for tenured and tenure-track faculty are concerned.
The proposed Rules and Policies can be viewed at http://www.selu.edu/admin/president/proposed_changes/index.html. Suggested new/edited passages are underlined. The UL System Faculty Advisory Council will be providing input to the Board regarding the proposed changes.
While I realize such issues are understandably disconcerting to our faculty, the magnitude of the looming financial shortfalls, particularly in fiscal year 2011-12, leave us no choice other than to contemplate the possibility of significant organizational and operational transformation. Given that possibility, these Rules and Policies as proposed would allow significant institutional changes to match the potential speed and magnitude of deteriorating finances.