What to do? Dying department (Traditional Program)

Big news came down from the top today, 4 fulltime professors (of 7 tenured) in my department are being forced into early retirement due to budget cuts. I am a first year PhD and 3 of the 4 were (in my mind) destined to be on my committee. I think my department is dying, what would you do? Jason

 

Jason: I am extremely biased on this, having been in your situation, stuck in a department that was disembowelling itself, repeatedly with its grad programs under suspension, and finally having my dissertation trashed after my original supervisor left that university. Perhaps you are more diplomatic or more academically accomplished than I was, and so better able to survive what you describe, but my advice would be to get out now. Perhaps others who have switched universities or programs can advise you on how feasible it actually is to switch (I have no idea) without "wasting" your prior work. In any case, best of luck to you.

 

I am thinking the same... After all the department policy is that 5 people have to be on your board and I don't think there are 5 people left that can do it. I was told by a faculty friend that it was still possiable to finish the degree (if I rush it as fast as I can) but that odds are that the department will be no more shortly thereafter. If the department dies as I finish my degree, who will hire me?

 

I hope you get some other posts for additional perspectives, too.

 

I had to replace my entire committee, so I know your pain.


You don't mention the number of units you already have. This should be considered in the equation. Speak to the department chair, the dean, etc. See if you can find out what the plans are for your department. along with this, start looking, quietly, for programs that may be willing to accept some of your units.

Good luck.

 

Jason,

What is your field?

 

What is the status of the professors forced into early retirement? I have seen schools where retired professors still were able to have duties – and since they were freed of much of their administrative work they could concentrate on what they enjoyed doing most. Would the university allow some of the professors forced into early retirement to supervise your program? If so, you may have the benefit of having 2-3 professors with few other obligations than to help you complete your research.

 

Jason: I would get in line behind Russ's advice that you look elsewhere albeit very, very quietly. The faculty who remain may see the existing students as a precious resource for maintaining their FTE and punish those who seek greener pastures. I could envision where word would travel through your discipline the program is imploding and the pool of applicants dries up. Or, perhaps, the department is left with less attractive applicants and the end result is your degree is devalued. I encounter a lot of graduate and professional students in my job and I frequently marvel at how difficult a trail some folk encounter.

 

Under the advice of 2 remaining professors I'm leaving the program, where from here I don't know. With my history, 4.0, awards, etc, they feel that it is a waste for me to stay. Thanks for the tips. Í will be sending apps to DL and Traditional RA schools in between my classes. Thanks again!!

 

Get Out

I was also in a similar situation.... I waited too long and wasted too much energy, time, and money.

It will not heal itself; get out quickly. Salvage the few credits you can transfer.

Best of luck to you...

 

Tough tough tough, Jason...

As a grad school applicant myself, I have been advised to seek out the larger departments in order to avoid this and other grad-student headaches.

PLease keep us posted as to how your salvage operations are going.

--Orson

 

I am sorry to hear of your plight.

On a side note, what happened to the safety net of the "non-profit" status of traditional programs? If this were a for profit school, I am sure there would be those using it as an example of how the “for profit” programs have less stability because they are more concerned about the bottom line than education. I continue to believe that anyone that thinks non-profits are not equally concerned about the bottom line are mistaken.

 

There is another perspective to consider. The school's obligation to the student. It appears that you have invested a significant amount of time and personal resources into reaching your current educational status. The budget cuts and consequent effect on the future formation of a doctoral committee is the school's issue that they have now made the student's problem. What is the school's legal and moral obligation to protect students' rights and investment in this regard and to propose an alternate solution to ensure the student's completion of their program?

As a suggestion, prior to leaving this school, it may be of value to speak with those individuals within the school's governing hiercrachy as to the considerations and responsibilities they have to students in your predicament. Hopefully, they may propose alternate solutions or ideas as to how to resolve this matter. If they contend "tough luck", the retort should center around how they plan to compensate students' who find themselves in such predicaments due to the failure of the school to forewarn and redress such situations in a timely manner. A discussion with the coordinator of the regional accrediting agency regarding this matter may also be in order as well as state political represenatives.

Yes, one can atttempt to transfer to another program but this too has its share of associated problems. However, it appears that the school has an obligation to work closely with students, and to assist them in achievine their educational objectives. Thjis is especially relevant in relation to students' who in good faith invested their time, energy and financial resources into a program which is subsequently in the process of folding.