It was out of the blue. Students were not talking about the deficits that had been happening since 2013. We pay so much in tuition, so what do you mean, “deficit?”
Black studies, religious studies, philosophy and Spanish majors have been eliminated. As well as gender and body studies, human resources management, liberal studies, nutrition and secondary education certifications in biology and chemistry. These courses will continue as minors and incorporated into the core curriculum.
I never would have anticipated that majors and faculty would be cut due to overspending and upgrades on the University’s part. The department and faculty cuts broke out as a news article before Cabrini had even released a statement to students and faculty.
I do not believe that there was enough transparency between the Cabrini administrators and the students. In my opinion, it does not look too good when students, parents and faculty have to find out that Cabrini is making major cuts as they are catching up on the evening news.
After the story was released, it was then that Cabrini decided to reach out to the students.
Thank you, Cabrini. For one email.
Even though these departments and faculty cuts do not affect me personally, they affect the campus environment, and to me, that is important. Peers that I sit with in a classroom can potentially be affected, and they have become my friends.
In the light of the world and society today, cutting departments such as Black studies and Spanish seems to be counterproductive. Now more than ever I think students would be more attracted to those majors due to the social justice issues relating to both. I am honestly surprised Cabrini is not facing more backlash for demoting these majors as a liberal arts school.
Eliminating these majors that directly coincide with Cabrini’s mission of “diversity, equity and inclusion,” does not sit well with me.
Apparently, students who are now enrolled within these majors being cut will be able to finish out their degrees. However, what about the faculty that is being cut? I am concerned about what that might say about our education.
It is unfair for Cabrini to penalize faculty jobs or the students’ education because of reckless spending.
I do not have a clue on how to run a university or know any logistics. But, what I do know, and what the IRS Form 990 tells me, is that the President is not taking a budget cut. Why is it at the expense of the students and faculty to make Cabrini what it is today?
I understand why cuts were made in low enrollment areas. But, this is the students’ education we are talking about- not strictly business. The students that chose these majors also chose Cabrini. To me, demoting these majors to minors diminishes Cabrini’s value of their student’s education.
I just hope that low enrollment in majors being cut does not translate to low enrollment as a whole to the University.
I feel terrible for the 43 faculty and staff members that have lost their jobs. I can’t imagine what it is like being in education during this time. Not only are we still in a pandemic that is heavily affecting the operations of education, we are in a place where many other institutions are also cutting positions. There are little to no job opportunities.
Money is a very powerful driving force within this world and it cannot always be strictly business. People’s education and lives have been affected at the hands of budget cuts. What happens if these cuts aren’t enough to cover the debt we have accumulated. Then what?
