LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
LMFAO performs in front of about 3,000 at Events Center, 3A
Central Michigan University
Cross-Country runner follows mother’s footsteps, 1B
| Friday, Oct. 28, 2011
[cm-life.com]
One-third of academic programs targeted for cuts Prioritization forum Monday in Park Library By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter
Provost Gary Shapiro has recommended nearly one-third of Central Michigan University’s academic programs either receive less support or be targeted for elimination. Following a process that began more than a year ago, Shapiro’s preliminary Academic Prioritization report was released Thursday to the campus community. It evaluates 401 programs, placing them into priorities ranked
one through five. Priorities 4 and 5 include programs suggested, respectively, to be “retained, but at a lower level of support” and made a “candidate for reduction, phase out or consolidation with another program.” About 17 percent were distributed to Priority 4 and 16 percent to Priority 5. “Not all of them will necessarily be deleted, but a substantial number will,” Shapiro said. “It’s not blanketed.” Shapiro’s recommendations and priority rankings are listed online at http://provost.cmich.
edu under Academic Priorization Results. Next to each program is a “short rationale,” which Shapiro said explains how it received its ranking. These recommendations were written by Shapiro and the CMU college deans, though Shapiro said he had the final edit. These rankings, according to the provost’s report, are expected to be used in decisions regarding supplies, equipment and tenure-track and fixed-term faculty lines. For students now enrolled in
FORUM Provost Gary Shapiro will take questions about Academic Prioritization. w When: 4 p.m. Monday w Where: Charles V. Park Library Auditorium *Check out a listing of programs on 2A low-priority programs, Shapiro said they will be able to graduate. No additional students would be admitted to these programs, but provisions would be made for
CM-LIFE.COM w Keep visiting the website for updates on the story current students. Shapiro said the university will not terminate regular faculty who instruct for a low-priority program. Rather, they will be moved. Faculty members should communicate with their deans on this matter, Shapiro said. REACTIONS A public forum regarding Academic Prioritization is set for 4 p.m. on Monday in the Charles V.
After undergoing brain surgery within a month of being diagnosed with an aneurysm, Music Professor Alexandra Mascolo-David dodged death by a week and returned to CMU...
Park Library Auditorium. Meetings with students and various groups will also be scheduled during the next two weeks. Shapiro will consider concerns presented and adjust the preliminary report as needed before submitting a final report to University President George Ross. Shapiro expects the recommendations to be approved and take effect next semester. The report’s release had been delayed twice prior to Thursday. Shapiro said this was because of the need to quadruple-check
A ACADEMIC | 2A
Two depts. oppose CMED By Annie Harrison Senior Reporter
calm
& courageous
Piano professor looks back on battle with aneurysm By Hailee Sattavara | Staff Reporter Music Professor Alexandra Mascolo-David can be found in room 275 in the Music Building researching, holding piano lessons with students and practicing. Ten chairs face two sleek, black pianos amid surrounding bookshelves where her students come for lessons from the woman who has released three albums featuring the work of Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone. No one would guess less than a year ago, she had emergency brain surgery to close an aneurysm. “I can say that my experience was nothing short of a miracle,” Mascolo-David said. “I am a very lucky person for having survived this experience and for having had another chance at life.” Last fall, while promoting her latest album, she began having severe headaches. She told her husband she had a premonition of a health-related problem. She decided to make a call to her doctor, Aditya Pandey, of the University of Michigan Health System. A SURGERY | 2A
Professor of Music Alexandra Mascolo-David, helps graduate assistant Joana Simao of Portugal with her hand position during a private lesson Wednesday morning in the Music Building. “When you’re teaching one-on-one, which is the majority of my teaching, you build a strong relationship. So pretty much we have a friendship with all these students, that’s what makes us so unique,” Mascolo-David said.
The department of journalism voted unanimously last Friday to oppose the College of Medicine if revenue from existing academic programs are being used to finance it. Journalism Department Chairwoman Maria Marron said in an email the department does not oppose CMED if it is funded from independent resources or some other means. “However, there is no indication so far that CMU has obtained significant resources for the medical school,” she said. The department of Earth and atmospheric sciences has taken a similar vote, according to posts on the Central Michigan University Faculty Association Facebook page Tuesday by Geology and Meteorology Professor Kathleen Benison. She could not be reached in time for publication. Western Michigan University reportedly received a gift of $100 million this year for the medical school it is building, but there have been no announcements about similar gifts at CMU, Marron said. She said Michigan State University’s medical school already provides the programs and serves the communities CMED would serve, and this is a diversion of resources that is “unwise and unfair” to CMU students, faculty and other groups. Marron said journalism and other faculty across campus have several concerns about CMED, and money is a key issue. She said concerns include funding for building and sustaining the medical school, whether the quality of existing programs will be diluted because CMU cannot afford a medical school and quality academic programs. She is also concerned as to whether tuition dollars will support the medical school as opposed to academic programs in which students are enrolled. She said the department is also worried about how CMED faculty will be treated compared to other CMU faculty and whether CMED faculty will be members of the FA.
A CMED | 2A
Students for Faculty RSO approved, gains privileges Group pools student support for professors By Hailee Sattavara Staff Reporter
“The other adults are talking now” is the tagline for the new Registered Student Organiza-
tion: Students for Faculty. The RSO, approved Wednesday morning, will allow students to share their voices to support the teaching community during the ongoing Faculty Association contract dispute. Grand Rapids Graduate Assistant Michelle Campbell came up with the idea. “The administration might take us seriously if we have a le-
gitimate group,” Campbell said. The Central Michigan University advocacy policy gives RSOs several privileges that supporters did not have before. Campbell said being an RSO will allow them to legitimize the student voice, reserve rooms, sell T-shirts for fundraising, have a seat in the Academic Senate, organize leadership positions and advertise protests
through Cmail and CMU communications. “The mediator hasn’t come back yet and we want to be organized when he does,” Campbell said. Mount Pleasant senior Chris Benison said the RSO is evolving as an organization. He is married to Geology and Meteorology Professor Kathleen Benison.
“The faculty have always been here for students and have always cared for them,” Benison said. “This is one way of showing mutual support for the faculty.” Benison said they also want to extend their support to the Union of Teaching Faculty, adjuncts that are not on tenuretrack. “We’re frustrated because
93 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
the situation is at a stalemate,” Benison said, “it’s not resolving itself.” Benison said the contract dispute is damaging to the long-term viability of CMU. Fenton senior Maye Conley said she is more concerned about underclassmen and their future.
A RSO | 2A