MSP Urges Members to Sign Petition Calling for a General Meeting of the Faculty to Discuss Possible Reorg
We recognize that the dire budget situation may demand a rapid response. Yet the changes we make now will shape the university for decades to come. It is essential that every change involve the full participation of faculty -- and students and staff as well. Hasty decisions, made from the top down, without public debate, could have major consequences for the university, lasting long after the administrators responsible have moved on. On the one hand, we are facing immediate budget cuts, and more than thirty faculty and librarians have already been notified that they will be laid off. On the other hand, in difficult economic times the university is more appealing than ever; applications for admission are up by 29 percent. The Commonwealth is expecting several billion dollars of revenue under the new economic stimulus package in just a few months. It would be rash to dramatically reorganize the campus before we know the full extent of the crisis and before it is clear that these changes will save money and make academic sense. We therefore urge you to sign the petition (text below) by responding to this email (msp@external.umass.edu) calling for a general meeting of the faculty. The faculty as a whole need an opportunity to discuss these issues, and any others which emerge in the interim, and we will invite a response from the chancellor and other key administrators. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: Prof. Ernest May, Secretary, Faculty Senate From: The Undersigned Faculty Members and Librarians of the University Of Subject: Emergency Meeting of the General Faculty As provided in the constitution of the Faculty Senate of the Allunit mailing list |
