USM Budget Cuts- SAD!!!

From and email out to Faculty and Staff this morning details programs to be cut from USM, Art and Design loses two programs- read on...
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Dear Southern Miss Family,

I have the unfortunate task of advising you of our proposed budget cuts for the 2012 fiscal year. It is especially painful that this announcement comes at a time of record enrollment and unparalleled successes within the university.

The IHL Board of Trustees has asked all the state’s universities to develop plans to address anticipated budget losses. Our anticipated decrease for 2012 is approximately $15 million. Just as in the past year, we have started this process early in order to give ourselves the required time to notify faculty and staff members and to find any possible alternatives.

These decisions were guided by but not restricted to the recommendations of the University Priorities Committee. We owe the members of the UPC a debt of thanks for their long and arduous work and for providing valuable insights to the Executive Cabinet.
Reductions will come from the following areas: Academic Priorities (program deletions and consolidations), Academic Support Services, Administrative Support Services and campus-wide initiatives. The reductions are included within this letter. Regrettably, these reductions will result in job losses for faculty and staff. Students enrolled in programs targeted for elimination will be allowed a reasonable time to complete their degree programs. Also, an appeal process is being developed for programs requesting reconsideration.

Selected degree programs and academic initiatives will be eliminated in all five of the academic colleges. Twenty-nine faculty members have been notified that the current academic year will be the terminal year on their contracts. These include 3 Tenured Professors, 11 Tenured Associate Professors, 11 Untenured Assistant Professors, and 4 Instructors. Ten of these individuals serve in the College of Arts & Letters, three in the College of Business, eight in the College of Education & Psychology, four in the College of Health, three in the College of Science & Technology, and one in the University Libraries. Six of the affected faculty members teach on USM’s Gulf Coast campus.

Campus-wide initiatives may include the redistribution of indirect cost funds from research grants and contracts, possible furloughs for all employees, and a possible retirement incentive program.
Please accept my deep appreciation for your steadfast support during these unprecedented economic trials. We will continue to work together toward positive solutions and a sound future for our university.

Sincerely yours,

Martha Saunders
President


Academic Program Deletion or Consolidation
Allied Health, Bachelor of Science Gulf Coast *
Allied Health, Bachelor of Science Hattiesburg *
Art, Bachelor of Arts (retain Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art) *
Art Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts *
Engineering Technology (Computer Science), Master of Science *
Criminal Justice (Consolidation to Hattiesburg)
Early Oral Intervention, Master of Science *
Education of the Deaf, Bachelor of Science *
Engineering Technology Master of Science (CM, LM, ACV) *
Geology, Master of Science *
German
Higher Education Administration, Education Specialist *
Interscholastic Athletic Administration, Master of Science *
Latin
Management Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration *
Marine Science, Bachelor of Science Gulf Coast *
MBA (Consolidation to Gulf Coast)
Paralegal (Consolidation to Hattiesburg)
Philosophy, Master of Arts *
Physical Education Licensure, Master of Science *
Political Science, Master of Arts (Consolidation to Hattiesburg)
Psychiatric Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing *
Recreation Leisure Management, Bachelor of Science *
Recreation Administration, Bachelor of Science *
Religion, Bachelor of Arts *
Sports and High Performance Materials: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy *
Technology Education: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy *

* Program closures require approval by the Board of Trustees

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There is more to the email detailing various savings in different areas, but my feeling is that although there may be savings for the state and University the great loss will be to the students.

Week Two

Paving continues. Hopefully it will be done in a day or two. The parking situation is ridiculous. I can not imagine having a job working with hot black-top in the summers in Mississippi. But with the economy in the toilet everyone is happy to have a job right now.

Here's a picture of James working with some of the Sculpture I students, gotta learn the torch set-up! It was terribly hot in the shop, close to 100 degrees, but they were all excited to get to cut steel with the torch for the first time.

A Message from Our Good Friends at FSU

Greetings All,
I am writing everyone to invite them to the FeSU fall iron pour. This year we are partnering with the Luca Foundation to preforming a fund raiser for triple negative breast cancer research. The event is on Oct 23, a non-football weekend here in Tallahassee, casting begins at 4pm. As with any pour in FLA, it could be HOT- so we'd like to have bunch of crew to make it easy on everyone. We're planning a big event with music and food and hot metal from our new furnace- The Studebaker. taps 2- 80lb ladles, runs fast & HOT!If you're local and wanna make a mold, holla at me we'll do it- if you're outta town, you're welcome to bring a mold too!Please RSVP in you're planning on attending.

Hope you're all doing well...

ira

Fe4Life!

Ira Hill
Associate DirectorMaster Craftsman Studios
Florida State University
www.craft.fsu.edu
850.644.0139

Meeting!

Important meeting of all sculpture and ceramics majors or folks thinking about being majors, 4PM on Thursday, Aug 19, at the 3D building. Don't miss it!

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Toys! Our backyard is getting paved! Yay!

New Semester, Part II

Our backyard, being dig up in preparation for new black-top. Will it ever stop?

Start of a New Semester

Here is a great article from the NY times about finding cheaper te/tb00k$. You see I am not actually allowed to tell you about where to find cheaper reads but since this is NOT a school publication and we are NOT in class I guess I can tell you anything I want- read on

How to Find Cheaper College Textbooks, NY Times, Sunday, August 8, 2010

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There will be a lot of road work happening on the back side of our studio during the first weeks of school. We are having the whole back part of the parking lot paved and we are getting a new driveway near the cupola. Please do not make any plans to use the back area for unloading supplies until you speak with me. We may be forced to use the front door for a while until this part of the project is complete.

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The parking situation is only going to get worse, especially in our front area on the side of the studio. This open area is "open" for anyone who has a hang tag to park in, not just students. There will be a bunch of new staff working in the Century Park and they have every right to park out front. Please make sure you take parking into consideration as you head to class, you will probably need extra time in the mornings.

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Please do not forget to pay your minimum balance for this semester- our classes are full, not just in the 3D area but in all of Art and Design. If you get dropped from a class for non-payment there is NO guarantee you will be let back in.

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This looks to be an exciting and busy semester! I look forward to seeing everyone really soon!