Fresno Pacific College (FPU) has simply laid off Nathan Carson, director of the college’s philosophy program and its solely full-time (and tenured) philosophy professor, and plans to eradicate the college’s philosophy main and minor packages. An enchantment of the choice has been made and is at present being thought of by the administration.
Fresno Pacific’s administration has begun dismantling the college
The choice on the enchantment is predicted on January thirteenth.
Dr. Carson is asking members of the philosophy career to help the enchantment of the choice to take away Philosophy at Fresno Pacific College. Messages of help might be directed to FPU President André Stephens, FPU by electronic mail to [email protected].
The Philosophy Program at Fresno Pacific has been in place for 47 years, based on Dr. Carson.
The cuts, which eradicated not simply the only real full-time philosophy professor, however 4% of the college’s whole college, had been supposed to assist the college administration address a multi-million-dollar finances deficit it created.
Concerning the cuts, Dr. Carson says:
Whereas financial standards for the college place cuts got, together with standards stating that packages missing in ‘vitality’ could be a spotlight, the Philosophy Main at present is holding a report in its numbers of majors at 12, the best in its 47 yr historical past, and outperforming dozens of different multi-faculty departments throughout the College. Per capita, this quadruples the .4% nationwide common (1.6%). The Program has additionally demonstrated longitudinal stability in its majors and minors, and is trending upward in its college students, whereas most post-covid departments are in regular decline, College broad. The Philosophy Division can also be poised for the primary time in its historical past, to obtain a devoted Common Training course requirement for all college students, in Vital Considering, starting in Fall 2023, which might considerably improve its College service, its measurement and stability, and course enrollment numbers within the Program.
General, the elimination of Philosophy doesn’t meet the removing disaster standards given by the College, nor does its removing help within the financial disaster. It’s a thriving Program, and poised for paradigm-shifting development with the brand new Common Training duties.
Dr. Carson additionally notes that the cuts are in violation of the College’s personal insurance policies relating to tenured employees:
Elimination of the Philosophy Program Director, as a tenured professor, violates the College Handbook of the College, the place a choice for tenured college is clearly said, in conditions of financial disaster (and in any other case). Three of the six layoffs had been tenured professors, and this can be a level of nice concern and dialogue at present amongst all the college on the College.
Dr. Carson additionally serves because the Director of Fresno Pacific’s Wilderness Packages, which runs a particular program that will even be eradicated along with his departure. He explains:
These Packages embody a much-beloved, month-long Summer season Sierra Program, through which college students enroll in a wide range of programs—philosophy, english, ecology, liberal research, and extra—and share a retreat-style group expertise with college in Yosemite Nationwide Park, whereas additionally embarking on prolonged Excessive Sierra mountain climbing communities with their professors, studying and residing collectively on the path. This Sierra Program subsidizes the price of the Philosophy college place considerably, has enrollment pathway partnerships with a local people school, and constantly produces summer time enrollment and constructive income for the College. The Sierra Program additionally comes with a multi-million greenback legacy property in Yosemite, provided freed from value to the College and its college students, by a personal possession group shaped and led by [me] for this particular goal. The selection to take away Philosophy at this College, additionally means eliminating this Summer season Sierra Program, which isn’t solely extremely transformative for a lot of college and under-represented and numerous college students; it’s also making a constructive contribution to the financial problem our College faces.
In line with Dr. Carson, the enchantment has obtained sustained help from college students, alumni, and college members from many disciplines and colleges throughout the College.
To help the enchantment, contact FPU President André Stephens.
