Committee seeks student feedback on WCP decision
Vic Brotzman
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Front Page
The Western College Program is set to undergo its biggest change since it became a part of Miami University in 1974.
Having lost its divisional status in 2006, it will undergo a remodeling, and reopen no later than the 2009-10 school year as a program within the College of Arts and Science (CAS).
In early March, a committee was drawn up to plan the new program. The charge given to the committee by Karen Schilling, dean of CAS, is to "develop and shepherd through the relevant approval process a plan for a new program in the College of Arts and Science to be called the Western Program."
Composed of members from a diverse group of departments within the university, the committee held a meeting April 24 to find out what students had to say about Western and Miami in general.
"We need to be committed to the democratic ideal of what education is, and if we're committed to that, it needs to be a fully participatory process," said Peggy Shaffer, program director of American studies and one of the committee co-chairs.
Shaffer added that the committee plans to hold additional student forums.
Similarly, the committee's other co-chair and professor of interdisciplinary studies, Chris Myers, said he plans to keep an open ear to Western's alumni. He said so far, reactions from Western alumni have been mixed.
"I think it's a small minority that has written Miami off (following the decision to close Western), but there are those on the other side rallying for support to make this something Miami can be proud of," Myers said.
Myers said that he hopes to have an ongoing seminar, where students, alumni, faculty and other interested people can regularly express feelings on the issue.
At Tuesday's meeting, Shaffer asked students - even those outside of Western College - to talk about what transformational experiences they have had in college. Students also spoke of what they would change or keep about Miami.
"A huge difference that Western makes is that they connect theory to practice and global issues," said Stephanie Lee, a senior interdisciplinary studies major.
Having lost its divisional status in 2006, it will undergo a remodeling, and reopen no later than the 2009-10 school year as a program within the College of Arts and Science (CAS).
In early March, a committee was drawn up to plan the new program. The charge given to the committee by Karen Schilling, dean of CAS, is to "develop and shepherd through the relevant approval process a plan for a new program in the College of Arts and Science to be called the Western Program."
Composed of members from a diverse group of departments within the university, the committee held a meeting April 24 to find out what students had to say about Western and Miami in general.
"We need to be committed to the democratic ideal of what education is, and if we're committed to that, it needs to be a fully participatory process," said Peggy Shaffer, program director of American studies and one of the committee co-chairs.
Shaffer added that the committee plans to hold additional student forums.
Similarly, the committee's other co-chair and professor of interdisciplinary studies, Chris Myers, said he plans to keep an open ear to Western's alumni. He said so far, reactions from Western alumni have been mixed.
"I think it's a small minority that has written Miami off (following the decision to close Western), but there are those on the other side rallying for support to make this something Miami can be proud of," Myers said.
Myers said that he hopes to have an ongoing seminar, where students, alumni, faculty and other interested people can regularly express feelings on the issue.
At Tuesday's meeting, Shaffer asked students - even those outside of Western College - to talk about what transformational experiences they have had in college. Students also spoke of what they would change or keep about Miami.
"A huge difference that Western makes is that they connect theory to practice and global issues," said Stephanie Lee, a senior interdisciplinary studies major.
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