Amanda Webster
The Faculty Senate spent most of its last meeting Monday debating aspects of ConnSCU’s strategic plan.
Suggestions to the plan was laid out in a recent statement from President John Miller to various University officials and aims to “promote distinct institutional and curricular identities for each of the four Connecticut State Universities.”
The senate had mixed feelings about CCSU’s desire to identify itself as a STEM school (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Most concerns were directly related to funding issues.
When asked why the state school system is going through a plan for change, Senate President Stephen Cohen said that it was likely for funding purposes.
Dr. Felton Best, a professor of philosophy, said he is worried that too many financial resources will go towards the STEM program in this effort, leaving less money for liberal arts programs.
“Is it going to be an issue of are we starving one child to feed another?” said Best referring to CCSU’s Liberal Arts Program as the starving child.
In addition to making Central a STEM school, the ConnSCU strategic plan wants to identify Eastern Connecticut State as a Liberal Arts school, Western Connecticut State as a Visual and Performing Arts institute while Southern will identify as a Health and Human Services school (that is supported by STEM).
Scott Hazen, SALD director, brought up another point regarding the University’s “plan B.” He asked what the school’s options would be should it not receive the STEM funding that it is anticipating.
While most senate members were not against this plan, many said that they are worried about its long-term effects on the school.
“I find it very hard to identify with something known as the STEM school…am I behind STEM? Absolutely,” said Cindy White, professor of communication. “But if that means the plan is that ultimately anyone interested in Liberal Arts better darn go to Eastern because Central is going to be the place of remedial education in order to do the math for the engineering department or STEM degree, then frankly no I do not want to be a STEM school,” said White.
Another member of the senate though, said that the STEM program is where Connecticut education is headed and that CCSU should take full advantage of it in order to better itself as a University.
“Without answers to these kinds of questions, it’s really difficult to figure out where you want to be on this issue,” stated White.