With remarks from the presidential cabinet over the last month about not wanting across the board cuts and preserving the educational experiences of students, it would still be better to have some peace of mind.
If Ball State University administrators really are thinking about cutting or consilidating programs — even minors or options within majors — they should let students know. Students deserve to have a say in this process, because it will be the students who are affected.
Whether the budget shortfall is covered by eliminating graduate programs, undergraduate options or stand-alone minors, or by other means such as layoffs, salary and benefit cuts for employees or a tuition increase, it shouldn't be as secretive as it has been. Other Indiana universities have disclosed at least partially what they are planning on doing to save money. We deserve the same treatment.
Undergraduate programs with the smallest enrollment are varied; they include women's and gender studies, geology, physics, economics, urban planning and educational studies. Just because these majors have few members doesn't mean they deserve any less voice0 in their future.
Even if you're a student in one of the larger programs on campus — elementary education, telecommunications, physical education, journalism, family and consumer science or biology — don't think these changes might not effect you.
Looking at cutting options with low enrollment has been mentioned as a viable option. But what would this really save? Cutting these options would make the programs less specialized and increasingly general.
Students, who pay increasing amounts of tuition and fees every year, have a right to say how they university they help fund is going to be run.
A public forum is a great solution to this issue.
Instead of keeping the considerations and discussions behind closed doors, Preisdent Jo Ann Gora and the cabinet would be better suited to allow input from the community, faculty and students outside of the higher end of the chain of command.
It's been long enough without any definitive answers. It's time we got to throw in our two cents.
Read More
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Digital grant program halted by Trump administration, state says
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 20 hours agoIndiana is suspending the application period for a Digital Opportunity Grant program, which opened April 30, under orders from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Ball State ends 2025 season with loss to Miami in MAC Softball Championship semifinal
By Zach Carter / 2 days agoBall State ended the year with a 8-0 loss to Miami.
Cardinals elect a new pope, the first American pope in history
By Staff Reports / 4 days agoCardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, according to the Associated Press (AP).
