UW Gazette, January 14, 1998
     
     After much controversy and much publicity, Carleton
University has officially decided to close most of its
languages programs and make other program changes. Here's
how a Carleton news release announced the action:
                         
     Carleton University took a major step today in ensuring
its financial viability and in reshaping itself in new
strategic directions.
     At its December 5 meeting, the university's senate
passed six resolutions which have the effect of
restructuring the faculty of science, replacing the current
undergraduate degree in physics with an applied physics pro
gram, closing several small undergraduate and graduate
degree programs, and refocusing graduate programs in
comparative literary studies.
     "These changes were recommended to senate for both
strategic and financial reasons," says Carleton University
president Richard Van Loon. "New strategic directions for
the university were set out last year in the report Steps
Toward Renewal which called for the consolidation and
strengthening of the university's specializations in public
affairs and management and the study of high technology, and
the renewal of the B.A. program. It was recognized at that
time that the university must focus its academic efforts and
may not be able to continue to offer all of its current pro
grams.
     "Financially, Carleton is faced with the necessity of
removing $5.8 million from its operating budget in order to
balance its books and bring its large and growing deficit
under control," explains Van Loon. "This means we have had
to make some very difficult decisions."
     The most significant changes are in programs offered
through the School for Languages, Literatures and
Comparative Literary Studies. Four small language programs -
German, Italian, Russian, Spanish - are closed. Also closed
are undergraduate programs in comparative literary studies
and classics which are part of that school. This year, there
are fewer than 200 full and part-time students in these
degree programs, compared to a total enrolment at the
university of 17,547.
     The university will honor its commitment to the
students currently enrolled in these programs and senate
passed a resolution to ensure that in-course students have a
reasonable opportunity to complete their programs at
Carleton.
     As well, the university will continue to teach courses
in European languages to support such programs as the
bachelor of arts, bachelor of humanities, bachelor of
international business, and the graduate programs in
international affairs. Classics courses will be offered
through the university's College of the Humanities.
     "Carleton is not abandoning its commitment to the
arts," says Van Loon. "The university recently introduced a
new rigorous liberal arts program offered through the Col
lege of the Humanities. It has revamped its B.A. program and
increased funding in this area. It is reinforcing programs
in areas like English, philosophy and history. And, even
with these program closures, it will have almost one-third
of the faculty members in the faculty of arts and social
sciences devoted to teaching and research in language and
literature."
     An earlier recommendation had considered closing
graduate programs in comparative literary studies. The
school has been directed to come forward with proposals to
modify programs with reduced resources. "As soon as senate
approves the new program structure, admission to these
graduate programs will be re-opened," says Van Loon.
     In the faculty of science, the creation of a single
unit for experimental sciences (including programs in
biology, chemistry, physics and earth sciences) will greatly
reduce overhead costs and will allow for the enhancement of
facilities through the consolidation of laboratories in the
Steacie and Herzberg buildings.
     In another resolution, senate accepted a proposal from
the department of physics to develop a program for an
undergraduate degree in applied physics which would replace
current programs. This move reinforces the new strategic
directions which call for a net transfer over time from
traditional science into high technology programs.
     Again, core courses in physics for engineers and
students in other science programs will continue to be
delivered at the undergraduate level.
     The changes agreed to by senate represent the
culmination of a long process of program review begun last
winter. As directed by senate, all programs at the
university were evaluated according to four criteria:
academic merit, complementarity to the university's new
strategic directions program demand, and financial
viability.
     "These are not hasty decisions," says Van Loon. "The
process has been thorough and lengthy, undertaken in full
knowledge of our financial situation and the possibility of
program closures."
     Following today's meeting, the administration and the
Carleton University Academic Staff Association will engage
in discussions regarding the process for implementing sen
ate's decisions. The discussions will focus on the process
for faculty layoffs.
     The financial impact of today's decisions will be to
remove some $2.1 million from the university's operating
budget. Another $476,000 will be cut from the faculty of
public affairs and management through the voluntary
separation program and administrative reductions.
     In addition to the academic changes, the university is
making another $2.8 million in cuts in administrative costs.
These cuts range from the elimination of subsidies to the
faculty club and Carleton University Press, to a
restructuring the university's counselling services. A
number of non-academic positions will be closed.
     "These have been very difficult decisions for
everyone," says Van Loon. "The university senate has worked
hard to arrive at some very sound academic decisions. And it
has done so within the context of a very challenging fiscal
environment. The uncertainty is over. Let's move ahead."