Philosophy department would be saved in revised plan
Nontenured faculty would be removed in place of controversial program cut, women’s studies still slated for elimination
A new proposal from the college of liberal arts has removed the recommendation to eliminate the department of philosophy.
The women’s studies department is still on the list of cuts that could take effect if the state Legislature adopts executive budget recommendations and the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approves UNLV President Neal Smatresk’s reduction suggestions.
The updated plan calls for the removal of nontenured professors in anthropology, philosophy and sociology in lieu of the elimination of the philosophy department.
Women’s studies and philosophy support the fewest majors of six departments in the college of liberal arts.
“The central rationale is to have as slight an impact on student progress toward degrees as possible,” stated liberal arts Dean Christopher Hudgins in a statement emailed to the department on Tuesday and quoted in the Las Vegas Weekly.
According to the Weekly, Hudgins stated that the $1.64 million cut currently estimated for liberal arts is likely to be ameliorated pursuant to legislative action, regents’ decisions, college reorganization or resignations and retirements.
Posts currently left unfilled in the college of liberal arts are among those slated for elimination as are three assistant professorships in philosophy, one professional staff job in foreign languages and one classified staff spot at the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada.
If the board adopts Smatresk’s recommendations, including the liberal arts proposal, professors whose positions are slated for elimination would have until July 1 to achieve tenure or be laid off at the end of the 2011-12 academic year.
The board of regents has until July 1 to pass a budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year — a task it is likely to be forced to undertake prior to receipt of a final legislative budget.
Haley Etchison reports on the Nevada System of Higher Education for The Rebel Yell. Contact her at [email protected]
