TERRE HAUTE —
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College has decided to phase out three low-enrollment academic programs in an effort to become more efficient, improve program quality and reallocate resources.
It will eliminate graduate programs in earth literacy and pastoral theology and its undergraduate program in music education.
Other programs are still under review, said Dottie King, vice president for academic affairs.
The decision to eliminate the programs follows a lengthy program analysis that began in December 2007.
Students currently enrolled in the three affected programs will be able to complete them.
There will be no immediate job loss, King said.
The college currently has six graduate programs; 39 majors in the on-campus undergraduate program; and 22 majors in The Woods External Degree program.
About half of the 320 on-campus students are education majors, King said.
The earth literacy and pastoral theology programs will be phased out over the next two years.
“Both of them were created to serve unique populations, and they did that. In their time, they thrived,” King said. The programs no longer generate the same kind of enrollment.
“I personally feel saddened,” said Sister Mary Lou Dolan, the earth literacy program director. The program’s graduates “are out there doing all kinds of wonderful work.”
Dolan credits the administration with putting a lot of time and effort into communicating with all parties involved before making the decision.
Since the program started in spring 1998, it has had about 50 graduates, Dolan said. She anticipates another 25 to 30 students will finish the program, she said.
King said the problem is twofold: enrollment is low, and students take several years to complete the program. Some current students began their studies in 2003.
King emphasized that the quality of the two graduate programs and staff are not in question. The decision to eliminate them is “a reflection of the needs of our current and future students and today’s trends and marketplace,” she said.
The concepts behind both programs remain important to the college and are part of its mission, King said. “We are looking at ways that they can be utilized in our undergraduate programs.”
The college’s science/mathematics department offers an environmental studies minor.
“Sustainability is very important to us,” King said, and she hopes that one day the college can offer an undergraduate sustainability major.
Pastoral theology, the college’s oldest master’s program, also no longer generates the enrollment it once did, although 19 students are currently active in the program.
The college, which does have a theology major at the undergraduate level, hopes to strengthen that program, which has a healthy distance education enrollment but a “challenged” on-campus enrollment, King said.
“We’re looking at ways to update the curriculum to make it relevant to today’s student,” King said.
The college is looking at ways to offer noncredit, continuing education programs in earth literacy and pastoral theology, perhaps during the summer, she said.
Diane Brentlinger, who obtained a master’s in pastoral theology in 1989, said “it’s very disappointing that a program that was the first master’s program at The Woods is being eliminated. I suppose in these times, economics dictates a great many things we’d rather not see happen.”
Brentlinger noted that the first group of graduates from that program, including herself, have met every year for the past 21 years. “We call ourselves the ministers of Providence,” she said. One graduate comes from Hawaii.
The college also plans to eliminate its undergraduate-level music education major, although it will maintain its music “core” and music therapy programs, King said.
While music education is a quality program, it currently has only five students, King said. Those current students will be able to complete their studies.
In contrast, the music therapy program is thriving, and has jumped from seven to 17 students in three years, she said.
King noted that if a student graduates with a “music core” major and wants to teach, “We can provide a program that leads to licensure.”
King said the college is reviewing a few other academic programs for possible elimination, although she declined to name them. “There is still some dialogue,” she said. The college hopes to have a decision by the end of the year.
Janet Clark, president of the Woods Faculty Assembly, said, “It’s not easy for people to hear that things have to be cut.” But she believes many faculty realize the administration did a thorough review and made the decisions based on what is best for the college in the long-term.
In December 2007, Woods President David G. Behrs appointed the Program Analysis Committee (PAC), consisting of five faculty and five staff. It conducted a comprehensive analysis of 264 academic and administrative programs.
Once the committee made preliminary recommendations, departments had an opportunity to meet with the Cabinet to provide additional information and offer creative ideas to improve program efficiency and quality.
As these meetings were completed, the college began to move forward on several initiatives.
The program analysis has enabled the college to look inward and make sure it is meeting the needs of students by providing programs relevant to today’s markets and the best customer service possible, Behrs said.
“We found there were many areas that we could improve upon – areas that we could take our resources and reallocate to another area or use in another way to strengthen our services and our programs,” Behrs said.
Program Analysis
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods College program analysis process has lead to several initiatives that have been completed or are in process. They include:
• Faculty review of the General Studies program.
• Recruitment and marketing plans for special populations including WED, Woods Online, international students, transfer students and military tudents.
• Standardization and centralized admission process for graduate students.
• Two-year course rotations of campus and WED courses.
• Orientation and training process for adjunct faculty.
• Consideration of the post-tenure review process.
• Investment in information technology support services for faculty, staff, and students.
• Reorganization of Advancement, Admissions, and Financial Aid areas for greater efficiency.
• Enhancement of the role of Learning Resource Center director to include support services for all student populations.
• Creation of Resources and Planning Committee to review the current Institutional Plan and identify future goals for the college.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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