(Eric Frey)
Provost Jeffery Herbst announced Jan. 22, 2007 the final fate of the Western College Program (WCP). University officials declared that WCP would be moved into the College of Arts and Science (CAS) as a separate program. This move accepts in part the Momeyer committee's recommendation that WCP be placed administratively within CAS. The only difference is that while the Momeyer committee recommended that WCP be given departmental status, WCP will now only be granted status as a program. This does create possible funding problems but overall this editorial board endorses this change in WCP and sees it as an important step to change WCP while at the same time maintaining it as a distinct program with many of its own traditions.
When the process of reviewing WCP first began, many professors and students, within and outside of the WCP, protested the closed methods in which the university discussed Western's fate. Many expected WCP to simply be eliminated. Certainly, thanks in part to the energy and dedication of a group of professors and students, WCP will maintain its home in Peabody Hall along with many of Western's other long-standing traditions, including a personalized major. Indeed, in a process that took place over almost an entire year, the energy and dedication of Western students in this process should be commended.
WCP will take a year off from accepting students into the program and go through curriculum changes in conjunction with CAS faculty. After this interim year, Western will present the curriculum and then be provided with funding by the university. We hope the university does follow through with its commitment to fund the WCP after this year review.
The university was forced to make a very difficult decision with regard to WCP as it faces a budget deficit that will not be eliminated without certain sacrifices. The shift in Western's administrative position allows the university to more efficiently manage its resources while rightfully maintaining Western's unique program. The curriculum review presents WCP with the opportunity to both adapt to new academic situations, and by being located within the CAS, gain a better ability to recruit students to its program. While Western may be downsized for the time being, the move to CAS presents it with the opportunity and hope to revitalize itself and grow to a larger program that maintains Western's traditions but also has a closer and stronger relationship with the rest of Miami.
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