Tutorial College Suspended
Adrienne Gaffney
Issue date: 4/4/06 Section: News
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Tutorial College professors announced to their students and applicants on Thursday that the program would be suspended indefinitely. The surprising announcement has come as a disappointment to the students and faculty who have participated in this program as well as the freshman applicants and has raised questions about the severity of the budget crisis.
Despite concerns over low enrollment, it had appeared that Tutorial would go on next year as planned. On March 15, however, Associate Professor of International Studies and Director of Tutorial College Michael Niemann announced to his classes "I was informed by the Dean of the Faculty's office that 'Tutorial College may need to be suspended for next year' for financial reasons." While Tutorial College's operating budget is only $30,000 yearly, it costs $150,000 to pay for replacements for the faculty who leave their departments to teach in Tutorial. It was said that the decision would be revealed on April 19 when President Jimmy Jones will address the entire community on budget matters.
It became apparent, however, that that date would pose a problem for Tutorial applicants who would need to register for classes prior to then. In advance of the budget meeting, Dean of Faculty Frank Kirkpatrick presented Tutorial faculty with a plan for a pared down program. Kirkpatrick explained "I was able to offer to continue Tutorial under somewhat more limited conditions." Instead of having four professors, there would only be three. This was explained to be in adherence with the 10 to 1 faculty ratio. Because there were fewer than 40 applicants there could be no more than three instructors. The budget for programming would be cut and there would no longer be a salary for an executive director. One of the biggest changes, however, was the fact that the faculty teaching in Tutorial would no longer have replacements in their departments. Because of these changes, the program would no longer be able to offer students five credits for the distribution requirements. It was decided by the professors that these conditions were not acceptable.
Despite concerns over low enrollment, it had appeared that Tutorial would go on next year as planned. On March 15, however, Associate Professor of International Studies and Director of Tutorial College Michael Niemann announced to his classes "I was informed by the Dean of the Faculty's office that 'Tutorial College may need to be suspended for next year' for financial reasons." While Tutorial College's operating budget is only $30,000 yearly, it costs $150,000 to pay for replacements for the faculty who leave their departments to teach in Tutorial. It was said that the decision would be revealed on April 19 when President Jimmy Jones will address the entire community on budget matters.
It became apparent, however, that that date would pose a problem for Tutorial applicants who would need to register for classes prior to then. In advance of the budget meeting, Dean of Faculty Frank Kirkpatrick presented Tutorial faculty with a plan for a pared down program. Kirkpatrick explained "I was able to offer to continue Tutorial under somewhat more limited conditions." Instead of having four professors, there would only be three. This was explained to be in adherence with the 10 to 1 faculty ratio. Because there were fewer than 40 applicants there could be no more than three instructors. The budget for programming would be cut and there would no longer be a salary for an executive director. One of the biggest changes, however, was the fact that the faculty teaching in Tutorial would no longer have replacements in their departments. Because of these changes, the program would no longer be able to offer students five credits for the distribution requirements. It was decided by the professors that these conditions were not acceptable.
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