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WCP moves toward entering College of Arts and Science

Vic Brotzman

Western College hasn't been shaken up this much since it became a part of Miami University 33 years ago.

Now, with the beginning of the new school year, the program is trying to determine exactly what its future holds.

A committee was commissioned in March 2007 that was set to the task of reconstructing Western College into a brand new program that will join the College of Arts and Science (CAS) no later than the 2009-10 academic year.

This will be a major change from Western's independent status in the past. Originally the campus housed the Western College for Women, a separate institution, until being acquired by Miami in 1974.

It remained the Western College Program (WCP)-a school of interdisciplinary majors that lived and took classes together-until 2006 when the program lost its status as a separate division at the university.

Chris Myers, professor of interdisciplinary studies, is one of the co-chairmen on the committee. He said that the committee is still on track with the goals it established at meetings in April and during the summer break, and is prepared to move forward.

"We know we want to have topical conversations throughout the year," Myers said. "The next step is for committee members to shape the forums where we can gather feedback from people."

Myers said nothing is set in stone as to an agenda yet, but the group had their first organizational meeting Thursday, Aug. 23.

Myers added he hopes the entire university community, including alumni, will voice their opinions for the future of the program.

"The main positive outcome we're looking for is for people to stay engaged and as we come up with a calendar (of planned actions), I hope we can have a lot of participation from the entire Miami community," he said.

Myers noted, however, that alumni reactions had been mixed.

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"I think it's a small minority that has written Miami off (following the decision to close WCP), but there are those on the other side rallying for support to make this something Miami can be proud of," Myers said.

According to Myers, the latest developments in the process were made during a seminar this past summer. The seminar was attended by Karen Spear, executive director for the Consortium for Innovative Environments in Learning (CIEL).

According to CIEL's Web site, the group is a union of like-minded "alternative" institutions, providing support through innovation and improvement. Other CIEL members include Alverno College in Wisconsin and Evergreen State College in Washington.

Myers said that Spear has "a broad national perspective of these types of programs," and that she provided creative input and helped identify the core values that the committee wishes to retain in the program.

He added that while Spear expressed interest in remaining with the project through its completion, no formal agreement was made with her to do so.

Also over the summer, the committee's other original co-chair, American studies professor Peggy Shaffer, took leave and was replaced by journalism professor Richard Campbell.

Myers said the only major change that he can detect in the program this year is the lack of a first-year class.

No incoming students can declare a major in the program until it is revised, though students are still living in Peabody Hall, including Western's upperclassmen and first-year students from a variety of other fields of study.

Kim Ernsting, the interim assistant dean of the Western College, said she felt Peabody's unique model of housing students in the same place where they take classes is part of what makes the program appealing.

"That's one of the hallmarks of the Western College Program," she said. "Discussions can go on into the dining hall or the corridor, and not end when class does."

Ernsting said that the residents of Peabody want to preserve more than just that aspect of the Western College and have created a traditions and transitions committee to help preserve that which made the program unique. Though it began just as a class during the previous spring semester, it became a method for students to contact alumni and maintain the college's past.

"They're looking at capturing (past) traditions and the traditions that will happen," she said. "They're keeping it integrated with what will come next."

Jocelyn Haugen, a senior, is one of the Community Life Assistants (CLAs)-Western's equivalent of resident assistants. She said that the CLAs make extra effort to accentuate the living experience of all the residents.

Haugen said that even though there are no first-year students this year in the Western Program, it still feels very much like the program she has known.

"It's not all that different really," Haugen said. "We're all still taking our classes. Our professors are still present in the building during their office hours. We're still sharing the same advantages."

She also said that the aspect of living with classmates is an irreplaceable experience that all the residents benefit from.

"It's what drew me to the program in the beginning," she said. "It's important to communicate to the first-years. I told them 'you have a great opportunity here, so make the most of it while you can.' "

Haugen added that the Courses in Common Program might be the most important aspect of the Western Program.

"The aspect of everyone living together and taking the same courses really does help," she said. "It develops strong friendships and cultivates class discussions."


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