Nursing students can put their protest signs away. Their program is now officially safe.
On Tuesday, HSU President Rollin Richmond announced his and Provost Robert Snyder’s decision to keep the nursing program. They chose to suspend computer science, computer information systems and the MA in film. The entire theater arts department is under review.
The savings totals about $600,000, less than half of the $1.3 million goal. Instead of eliminating more programs now in order to reach the total, Snyder will wait until next year’s budget is finalized and the theater program review finishes.
At Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting, Snyder addressed his timeline for potential further elimination. “I need to step back… until August or September,” he said.
Richmond sent out a campus-wide email addressing the elimination decision, specifically nursing. “It should come to no surprise that the decision about the nursing program was the most vexing,” Richmond wrote. “Nursing is one of the most expensive programs we have both per-student and overall, but California also has a pressing need for new nurses.”
Nursing major and legislative vice president of Associated Students, Beth Weissbart ran the Save the HSU Nursing Program campaign. “I’m very, very happy,” she said.
However, the continuation of nursing has conditions. Richmond wrote in his email that the number of students admitted to the program will decrease from 60 to 40.
The program also has to create a plan in order to solve its organizational problems.
Weissbart, sees the conditions as compromises. “It’s unfortunate, but considering what could’ve happened, it’s better than nothing,” she said.
Snyder wasn’t as nice to other programs. He suspended both computer science and computer information systems, even though computer science chair Mark Rizzardi agreed to merge the two. Both programs will be closed to all students who are not currently enrolled.
Computer science professor Sharon Tuttle is disappointed about the news, but hopes that the programs can make a future proposal. “I hope that means we have a shot next year,” Tuttle said.
Snyder also suspended the MA in film and put the entire theater arts department under review.
Department chair Bernadette Cheyene didn’t see this as a surprise. “[Snyder] spoke with us very frankly. He does have a point.” She said that department members will meet before the end of the semester to discuss solutions for the ongoing under-enrollment problem.
Theater arts major Steven Robert King said that compared to Modesto Junior College, HSU only offers the bare minimum in acting. “If they cut more classes, people aren’t going to have all the basics,” he said. “They might as well get rid of the program, not half-ass it.”
Until Snyder knows next year’s final budget and the status of theater arts, his decision is final.
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