University could cut degree program following review
Cyrus Nuval
Staff Writer
The health, physical education and exercise science program is at risk of elimination following a review conducted by the School of Education.
The program has been under review since 2012. Although no official changes have been made yet, Christine Walther-Thomas, the Dean of the School of Education, assured students they will be able to graduate with the degree if they are already enrolled in the program.
“All of our (School of Education) programs are under review in preparation for an upcoming school-wide accreditation visit next March (2014),” Walther-Thomas said in an email sent to students earlier this month informing them of the possible changes. “These reviews are especially helpful at times like this when significant organizational and personnel changes occur … This is a normal university process.”
Walther-Thomas said no formal decision has yet been made to phase out the program. The review process is expected to be complete by May. Walther-Thomas said the reason for the review is to provide a better quality of education to the students.
The School of Education plans to hold meetings in the summer and fall semesters with health, physical education and exercise science students to discuss the outcomes of the review.
Despite reassurances from administrators, some students are still concerned that their degree will be affected by these changes.
Junior Jocelyn Powell, a community health major, said the department is being unfair to students who have just started the degree program.
“I feel like (students) dedicated a lot to the program but we still don’t have a bit of say on something as important to us as this,” Powell said. “I get it, it’s an admin thing but we’re the ones who need to graduate … We’re the ones who are depending on the school to keep its word when we started off as freshmen … It’s upsetting.”
According to Mike Frontiero, a spokesperson for the School of Education, declined to comment on the proposed change.
