The Faculty Senate voted to merge two departments, voted to create a new online program and heard updates from President Mary Ellen Mazey on the state budget and next year’s enrollment numbers.
The Senate voted to merge the Romance and Cultural Studies department with the German, Russian and East Asian Language department.
According to Theodore Rippey, the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, dialogue about the two departments merging vamped up in 2015 after years of discussion.
“It is about creating academic programs that allow us to better serve our mission of preparing students…to develop individual competence and prepare them to live their lives as global citizens,” Rippey said.
He also thinks a revamped and merged department will create broader appeal for prospective students.
The Senate also voted to create a new online program in career and technical education.
Frederick Polkinghorne, from the School of Teaching and Learning, proposed the new program to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon.
This proposal creates a degree pathway in career and technical information education.
Also at the meeting, President Mary Ellen Mazey gave updates on the state budget in relation to textbook cost.
In January, Governor John Kasich proposed his budget to the legislature, which included a proposition to charge $300 per semester per student to cover the cost of all textbooks.
“This mandate…does not seem to be getting a lot of traction in the House,” Mazey said.
Instead, alternative models are being looked into at the state level. The current alternative plan would require universities to submit a plan to reduce textbook costs by fall 2018.
The plan for the University could include professional negotiation of textbook costs, “requiring professors to consider (textbook) costs…realization of digital material where available and appropriate, (and) development of addition open source material by faculty members,” Mazey said.
This alternative plan is in line with the Governor’s desire to reduce textbook costs, but allows universities to individualize the plan.
According to Mazey, specifics about tuition and fees freezes are not yet clear as the budget has yet to pass through the House, when it will then go to the Senate.
Mazey also announced that the enrollment data for this fall is looking strong.
Vice Chair of the Senate David Border raised the question of residential space for incoming students since Harshman Hall is closing in May.
“Even with Harshman coming down…we will be just fine,” Mazey said. “We have been very careful with all that and we continue to monitor that on a continual basis.”
