...in Pennsylvania. A philosopher in Pennsylvania writes:
Here's what I've been told, by those involved at the state level with our faculty union. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors has adopted, as an informal policy, to require special justification for any program not graduating thirty majors in five years. This includes the philosophy programs at Clarion U., East Stroudsburg U., Edinboro U., Indiana U. of PA, and Mansfield U. These programs must provide such justification by about mid-April or face a moratorium on new majors, which would likely lead to an eventual phase-out of the philosophy major at those universities. They are being encouraged to teach philosophy courses online and establish collaborative distance-ed programs with sister institutions. I have also been told that faculty retrenchment is now on the table at the state system, particularly with a view to when federal stimulus money runs out in a year and a half.
Comments are open for postings by those with additional information. Also feel free to post suggestions about what others can do to help support the threatened programs.
