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Faculty union calls for audit

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State University-Ohio Education Association union is calling on the university’s Board of Trustees to stop the cutting of academic programs and faculty positions and conduct a performance audit of nonacademic divisions.

“The cuts are a little hasty,” Mark Vopat, YSU-OEA spokesman and professor of philosophy, said.

Vopat noted that the union is critical of the board’s decision to cut about 26 associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s level programs after current students finish their courses. Vopat said a stronger effort needs to be made to look at the university’s efficiency — amid declining enrollment numbers — across the board.

YSU’s fall semester enrollment is 11,298 students — a drop of 1,398 students, or about 11 percent, from three years ago.

The eight associate’s level courses on the chopping block are computer information systems, dietetic technician, drafting and design technology, electric utility technology, emergency medical services, medical assisting technology, medical laboratory technology and social services technology.

The 12 bachelor’s level programs slated for elimination are art history, computer-information systems, dance management, family and consumer studies, French, gerontology, Italian, Italian education, manufacturing engineering, music history and literature, music theory and religious studies.

The six master’s level programs are American studies, art education, creative writing, gerontology, interdisciplinary visual arts and music history and literature.

Brien Smith, provost and vice president of academic affairs, confirmed the list of courses Friday, but he added “the decision to sunset (the programs) was made last academic year.”

Smith did not mention who would be laid off, but said that for now, fewer than 20 faculty members would be affected. He added, however, that more people would be impacted if the university is unable to find ways to save money.

During a special trustees meeting Monday, administration officials expressed their willingness to work with academic leadership and faculty to attain greater sustainability and efficiency.

Nevertheless, Vopat said the administration needs to find better solutions regarding attracting and retaining more students, as well as looking at making large cuts through a broader lens. He added that some music classes, for example, may have a small number of students and be costly by nature, but that doesn’t justify automatically eliminating them.

Vopat also noted that Kent State and Cleveland State universities, two of YSU’s closest competitors, saw enrollment increases this semester.

The union spokesman also was critical of what he said was the Board of Trustees’ decision to cut such academic programs while ignoring union representatives’ desire to know why cuts aren’t being considered to other areas, such as Division I athletics, which he said anticipates an $885,000 budget increase.

“YSU’s athletics budget is $13,835,644,” Vopat said in a statement. “Each student pays about $1,000 to athletics annually, roughly 10 percent of their tuition.”

news@vindy.com

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