The text of the letter from the chancellor of USC Upstate to faculty: Dear Colleague, Last week we announced a significant reorganization in Academic Affairs and across the University that will result in significant costs savings. During this time of great fiscal constraint it is imperative that we remain affordable for the populations we serve. Therefore, we must diligently and sometimes painfully identify methods for investing in initiatives that will increase enrollments and revenue. We must identify ways to simultaneously become more efficient and effective. One area in which we seek to achieve greater efficiency is interdisciplinary programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. The impact of the reorganization on the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies has received a great deal of attention over the last several days and rightfully so. To be clear, this reorganization in no way implies or reflects a reduction in my personal or our institutional commitment to the WGS minor and related programming. Rather, we saw an opportunity to strengthen the structures and support for each of the interdisciplinary programs—including Women’s and Gender Studies, African American Studies and International Studies. We will continue our support of WGS programming and it will thrive as a program on our campus. We are in the midst of a process that will strengthen the WGS program and other interdisciplinary minors. Toward that end—with input from academic, student, and faculty leadership—I will appoint a task force chaired by Dr. Warren Carson, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, to develop and recommend a structure for a new center. I envision the new center serving as the focal point and home for issues related to diversity in all its forms. Suggestions for programming beyond the existing minors and events related to them include diversity training for faculty and staff, programs that cross boundaries among disciplines, and activities that engage faculty, staff, and students in understanding the “different.” I will appoint this group over the summer and expect to receive their report by the end of September. We will draw on the wisdom and experience of faculty and others who are committed to WGS, African American Studies, and International Studies academic and co-curricular programming. I am confident that we can develop synergies and support across these programs and strengthen all of them by doing so. While the timing of our reorganization announcement was most unfortunate given recent discussions in the legislature about our funding, I want to make certain that all understand this restructuring is not a capitulation to external pressure from the state legislature or the surrounding community. We have worked hard to explain and defend the academic process and the importance of avoiding interference from outside forces on curriculum and reading assignments, which are and must remain the responsibility of the faculty. We watched closely as the Senate worked through its FY-15 budget, and we will stay abreast of how the conference committee deals with the budgets approved by the House and Senate. Furthermore, the restructuring is not a negative assessment of the programs sponsored by the Center. During the last eight years the Center has produced many events that view gender through other lenses of “difference” including race, nationality, religion, etc., and those events cover the range of women’s and gender issues. During the past few months, I have heard from various constituents indicating a need to address administrative costs and increase funding for academic programs. This has been, and will continue to be, the focus of our reorganization efforts. We are just beginning this process, and we will continue to seek adjustments and efficiencies as we go through the summer and fall. I have met with Dr. Paul Grady and Dr. David Ferris, incoming and outgoing Chairs of Faculty Senate, respectively, about ways we can better engage faculty leadership in institutional planning and decisions such as this. We look forward to sharing those plans with you soon. I want to assure you that as Chancellor, I am committed to ensuring that USC Upstate is a welcoming and supportive community for people from all backgrounds and orientations. We must offer programs and activities that equip and empower all who come to us to live authentically as they grow to understand themselves and the world. Programs in women’s and gender studies are essential to achieving this part of our mission, and these programs will remain a vital part of the life of USC Upstate. I hope we can use the passion and energy expressed by many for these programs to enliven and enrich the life of our University. Tom Thomas F. Moore, Ph.D. Chancellor 800 University Way Spartanburg, SC 29303 864-503-5200
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 18:00:36 +0000
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