POTSDAM The SUNY Potsdam Faculty Senate is pushing back against SUNY Potsdams plan to cut 14 degree programs as part of an effort to stave off a $9 million deficit.

The faculty body passed a resolution calling for a freeze to the plan and has drawn up a document outlining alternatives to cutting 13 of the 14 programs being eyed for the chopping block.

In September, SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne R. Smith announced a series of tough measures in response to financial woes, which include discontinuing 14 degree programs and considering the closure of two campus buildings.

Enrollment at SUNY Potsdam has seen a dramatic decrease from 4,098 students in the fall of 2012 to 2,515 students this semester.

This substantial decline has placed immense financial strain on the institution and has contributed to a $9 million deficit. Smith said that last year the college took in revenue of $38 million but spent $47 million.

The Faculty Senate documents acknowledge the severity of the colleges financial picture and agrees with taking action.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee clearly understands the need to reduce faculty headcount as part of a larger plan to reduce spending on the campus, in response to our $9 million annual deficit, Faculty Senate Chair Gregory A. Gardner wrote in an Oct. 17 letter to SUNY Potsdam Interim Provost Alan L. Hersker. Faculty Senate Executive Committee encourages the administration to take a broader perspective on the approaches to cost cutting, and to recognize the need to develop plans for future survival, rather than simply cutting programs. Many of the proposed cuts must be expected to also cause losses in revenue as students who seek these programs no longer consider SUNY Potsdam and decide to enroll elsewhere.

A resolution the Faculty Senate recently passed alleges that senior school leadership have undertaken an opaque process and has failed to clearly and forthrightly communicate the future vision of the university, the efficient allocations of resources therein, the precise budgetary and personnel goals for each unit to increase efficiencies, and cost-benefit analyses of programs that are to be discontinued.

The resolution goes on to say despite claims to the contrary, senior leadership has failed to accurately and effectively communicate how decisions being made in the name of Financial Stability are data driven, informed by stable and reasonable criteria, and in reference to the full scope of disciplines and practices associated with other SUNY Comprehensive Colleges.

Bachelor programs being targeted are art history, art management, biochemistry, chemistry, dance, French, philosophy, physics, public health, Spanish and theater. The masters degree in music performance is also being considered for elimination. These programs collectively account for 6.3% of total enrollment. The Faculty Senate resolution challenges the claim that 6.3% of the total SUNY Potsdam enrollment would be impacted.

The senior leadership claims that the measures are efforts to put students first and that they will impact only 6.3% of students, when many more will be affected by reduced course availability, lack of access to a full and meaningful liberal arts education, negative perceptions about value of a degree from this university, limited access to support as a result of the overworked faculty and staff who remain, larger class sizes and a higher student-to-faculty ratio, decimated campus climate, and more, the resolution reads.

Gardners letter makes suggestions for retaining 13 of the 14 programs that are under consideration for being discontinued.

For the chemistry BA and BS, the recommendation is to combine the two into a single chemistry BA.

They have also proposed a realignment of multiple upper division courses by schedule and cross-acceptance with the Physics BA to substantially reduce the number of low-enrolled courses in both departments, Gardners letter says. These changes essentially allow the preservation of Chemistry and Biochemistry programs at SUNY Potsdam, while still generating significant cost savings.

If the Chemistry programs are retained, as described above and in the departments response, the Biochemistry BS can be supported at essentially no additional cost, per department estimates.

The letter says the physics BA program generates $157,000 in revenue from 18 currently enrolled students. It describes the program as currently cashflow positive.

The department believes that this program can be supported by two faculty members. The departments proposed plan shows that the program is currently cashflow positive. In addition, by sharing upper division courses with Chemistry, the number of low-enrolled courses in both programs can be reduced, the letter says.

Faculty leaders are recommending the BA degrees in art history and museum studies be combined into a single degree program.

The department has proposed an alternative in the form of a new program combining Art History with Museum Studies. The initial analysis of this program appears promising, and it also allows for the inter-disciplinary use of courses from Anthropology and other programs, the letter says.

The letter describes the philosophy BA as having a positive financial contribution due to efficiently teaching so many students in other programs.

If the Philosophy program and courses are eliminated, it will simply require other programs to expand their offerings to compensate probably at a lower level of efficiency/higher cost, the letter says. Given the extensive demand for philosophy coursework across the campus, it is unclear how eliminating this program will reduce the campus budget deficit.

Citing a local shortage of healthcare workers, the faculty recommends keeping the public health BA and MS. The masters program is now 100% online. Faculty in the department are working to collaborate with nearby Jefferson Community College and strong partnerships with health agencies in the community.

Employment forecasts show a severe shortage of workers in healthcare, especially in regions like ours. The advantages of these programs seem to outweigh the costs, the letter says. With 42 enrolled students in the 2 programs generating an estimated $366,000 in tuition/fee revenues, they appear to be cashflow positive, with significant growth opportunities.

The letter recommends keeping the dance and theater BA degrees as a way of attracting a more diverse student body. The programs also are centered around the $60 million performing arts center that opened on campus about a decade ago.

Both programs have an unusually high percentage of BIPOC students, with rates much higher than other programs on campus. While enrollment in these programs was disproportionately affected by the pandemic, that is behind us, and we are positioned for growth. The programs are supported by a $60 million performing arts building that offers a chance to differentiate our programs from others in these disciplines, the letter says.

The arts management BA, which was started five years ago, should be kept because its an interdisciplinary program with strong career employment capabilities, the letter says.

The program is well-positioned as an interdisciplinary bridge between various arts programs, including Cranes music programs and music business, as well as the Business Administration BS and possibly the MS in Management, the letter goes on to say.

The letter argues that the BA programs in French and Spanish contribute to a more robust liberal arts offering and should be kept.

While the current programs may be unsustainable, it is vital that SUNY Potsdam retain the ability to deliver at least 30 credits worth of content in both French and Spanish. Many SUNY campuses are apparently experiencing similar problems with language programs, and SUNY is exploring alternative efforts to share resources virtually, it says.

The Faculty Senate supports cutting the masters in music performance.

The Faculty Senate has received no response to the proposed discontinuation for the Music Performance Department and understands that the department supports the decision to discontinue the Music Performance MM, the letter says.

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SUNY Potsdam faculty want to keep 13 of 14 programs eyed for cuts ... - The Adirondack Daily Enterprise