I have no doubt that I owe my career to the University. I studied abroad in France and Burkina Faso and believe me; no one studies abroad in Burkina Faso.
Two promotions later, and I am feeling very lucky that I did. I want to start with this because in no way do I want to sound ungrateful for the wonderful experience and enriching education that I had during my four years at the University.
I found out this week that one of my favorite teachers will no longer be working for the University starting spring 2014.
After years of retirement buyouts and 73 faculty cuts just last year, I just can’t believe that they are letting go of yet another 30. It breaks my heart to hear that one of my greatest professional mentors will no longer be a part of the University family.
This particular teacher inspired me to leave my comfort zone and analyze the world through a different lens. I cannot imagine my University experience without him, and I know dozens of University alumni would agree with me.
Teachers are the ones who take good programs and turn them into great ones. What the University is doing with these faculty cuts is destroying the credibility of the school and hindering it from doing the one thing it’s supposed to: teach students.
While athletics and beautiful new buildings are great, they are not worth jeopardizing strong academic programs. After 73 cuts just last year, did they really need to contract Accenture for $500 thousand to tell them to cut even more [the report will be released on December 11th]? Roll along you BG warriors!
They need to reevaluate their priorities. Good teachers are the foundation of any educational establishment. I would gladly trip over a hundred cracked sidewalks or eat in an old cafeteria if it meant that I would get an education that would land me a job when I graduated.
The whole point of a college degree is to learn from professionals, but with these cuts, the University is discrediting its reputation to provide that opportunity to its students.
Of course, there are still plenty of talented teachers at the University and I’m sure there always will be, but it is unfair to students if they keep prioritizing buildings and sports over quality educators.
I know many of the 30 faculty leaving this spring and all I can say is that we need these teachers.
I’m not writing this because I am angry – I am writing this because I love this school and I want to see it get better, not worse. I want to be proud to be a Falcon again and not devastated that future students will be robbed of the same opportunities I had when I graduated.
I’m lucky to have a job, but the fact that the person who helped me get mine is no longer employed, leads me to write this with a heavy heart and a pang of guilt.
To that one teacher who taught me how to open my eyes: don’t give up. Although the University is unfortunate enough to lose you, I know that you’ll change the world somewhere else.
You changed mine.
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