Students at the University of Central Oklahoma held the first of what may be several demonstrations on Wednesday, objecting to the threat of losing favored instructors due to budget cuts. (Photo by Janice Francis-Smith)
EDMOND – Students at the University of Central Oklahoma held the first of what may be several demonstrations on Wednesday, objecting to the threat of losing favored instructors due to budget cuts.
Administrators have kept students and faculty members in the dark regarding the actual size of the budget shortfall, which professors will be affected, how many professors will be cut and how those decisions will be made, according to those attending Wednesday’s demonstration.
The budget cuts and the way administration has handled the situation are destroying the very aspects that made UCO attractive to many students enrolled there, said one student.
In a budget meeting held March 24, UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar informed staff members and students that faculty members would be laid off, according to coverage in the campus newspaper, The Vista. Some vacant positions would be eliminated, and class sizes would be increased from a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio to a 17-to-1 ratio. Student fees will be increased by about $6.02 per credit hour.
There was some confusion as to the size of the budget deficit, which administration attributed to a 17.7% decrease in enrollment.
The university is still sorting out how many positions will be eliminated, depending on if the positions identified are part-time, full-time or non-tenure track positions, said Adrienne Nobles, vice president for communications and public affairs. Eighteen of the positions are currently vacant.
“Leadership in UCO Academic Affairs is working with the deans of each academic college and faculty leadership to make strategic decisions to best protect the quality and integrity of academic programs and that adhere to provisions in the UCO Faculty Handbook,” Nobles said. “Full-time enrollment over the past five years has declined by 17.4% with little change in the number of faculty positions.”
What was originally presented as a $20 million budget shortfall was revised to $8 million, after it was revealed that the larger sum included rollover funds from the previous year that were listed as a debit.
“That is completely unacceptable from our administration,” said student Logan Boyd, who helped organize Wednesday’s event, which he described as a demonstration. Rumors around campus vary as to the number of positions to be eliminated – some have heard around 40, some more than 50.
“What I don’t understand is the methods they are using to offset that deficit, with an increase in student fees, cutting professors and budgets,” Boyd said. “I don’t understand why that’s the last resort, that we’ve come to now. We’ve heard so many different numbers, we’re not entirely sure what’s true and what’s not.”
Students want to know which professors will be affected and how those decisions are being made.
“I’m part of the LGBTQ SSI, and my mentors are being threatened to be cut,” said student Adryan Witchy. “I think it’s unfair that we have these actual members who are doing something and the president is willing to protect and promote a predator.”
Student Alana Cox also cited professor Kato Buss’ recommendation to be promoted, as cited on the March Regional University System of Oklahoma’s meeting agenda. Buss is the subject of an ongoing Title IX case against the university.
“None of us know what happened during that investigation,” Cox said. “Especially the females on this campus want that transparency. We want to know what happened.”
“The atmosphere around campus is really sour right now, and I’m talking about students and staff,” said professor Marc Goulding, who said he attended the demonstration in support of his students who are outraged by the way the situation is being handled.
“What I’ve heard from students is faculty represent a resource for them, we are here for them, and they don’t know why we are sort of arbitrarily getting rid of 40-plus, 50-plus, the numbers keep changing,” Goulding said. “One of the problems is that throughout these discussions there has been very little stability in how many, when, how are we doing to do it, how is it going to be decided.”
Goulding said he came from the East Coast and decided to stay because he fell in love with the institution, its mission, and its students.
“We’re a very dedicated bunch,” Goulding said. “Our students are very dedicated, and we’re here for them. There is a lot of anxiety around campus right now.”
Student Alexxandria Barksdale said she passed on the University of Oklahoma due to class sizes and concern she would not have a voice on such a large campus.
“UCO was oh, we’re diverse, we have small class sizes where you can be heard,” Barksdale said. “And we’re like OK, that sounds good. So now we’re all here, and things are changing. … We’re blindsided by all of this now. You know these small class sizes mean closer relationships, and now they’re having to leave because you don’t know how to deal with the money.”
Pending staff cuts spark protest at UCO - Journal Record
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