Philosophy at Nevada/Reno Also at Risk if Governor's Draconian Budget Cuts Go Through

Details here.   A message from the UNR Philosophy Chair Deborah Achtenberg was passed on to me:

The University was required to announce today a set of additional eliminations, reorganizations and reductions that would have to be made should the governor's suggested budget cuts be implemented completely. 
We can still hope that the governor's proposed budget cuts are not implemented completely.  There is no set time-frame on when we will know.  It depends on how long it takes for the legislature to determine the state budget.  I imagine it could be the beginning of June.

If the governor's budget cuts are implemented completely, the following changes will happen to the Department of Philosophy:

1.  The Department of Philosophy will continue to exist.

2.  All our degree programs would be eliminated (Philosophy BA major, Philosophy BA minor, Philosophy MA). 

3.  The number of Philosophy faculty would be reduced from seven to three.

4.  The remaining three members of the Philosophy faculty would teach service courses--i.e. courses they are qualified to teach that are needed by other programs on campus (specific details to be worked out in the future).

5.  Faculty who are terminated would remain through June 30, 2012 (termination date).

6.  The University would endeavor to help students in our programs complete their program or find a suitable alternative.

7.  I do not know how the Department's LOA budget [budget for part-time faculty] would be affected by this.  I will report to you as soon as I do know.

Again, these are changes that would take place should the governor's budget cuts be fully implemented.  We can hope that they are not.  Please, contact your legislators and the governor to tell them how you feel about this.

It has been my great privilege and honor to serve the State of Nevada and University of Nevada, Reno, for 28 years.  I am deeply saddened by these events.  It is my view that philosophy is a central component of any university education, and that the loss of a fully functioning Philosophy program at UNR would be a great loss not only to those of us who teach and do research in Philosophy, but to our students, the University and the state as a whole.

Contact information for relevant legislators can be found in the earlier posting regarding the threat to Philosophy at Nevada/Las Vegas.  It is quite imperative for Nevada residents, in particular, to make their voices heard at the legislative level.