Many current and former faculty members were outraged and saddened by the elimination of programs so closely linked to Calvin’s historical mission and reputation.
After reviewing recommendations from the Academic Program Review, university officials have decided to cut five major programs, seven minors and its in-house facilities management, according to a faculty-wide email from University President Michael Le Roy.
As a result, two members of faculty were laid off, and the positions of 12 retiring or resigning faculty will not be refilled. The university is also replacing its facilities management staff with contracted labor by June 27.
Le Roy announced similar faculty and program cuts last summer, also citing predicted financial strain as a main factor.
The astronomy minor, Chinese major and minor, classical studies major and minor, Greek minor, Latin minor, Dutch major and minor, German major, and global development studies major and minor will all be phased out in the coming year, according to the June 7 email.
In combination with last summer’s cuts, the university has now eliminated approximately half of its previously offered world language majors and minors. According to world language faculty, Greek, German, Dutch and Latin courses were among the earliest to ever be offered at Calvin.
Professor Herman De Vries said Calvin’s Dutch program has been active since 1915, outdating any in the country, with the exception of Columbia University’s. “The reality of what we have now lost—with one fewer person, and with reduced offerings in Dutch and German—is, right now, difficult and discouraging,” De Vries told Chimes.
“I completely understand why Calvin made this decision, and it makes good financial sense, but I still believe it was the wrong one” said junior Adrienne Ora, who went from being a student of three departments to one overnight.
Professors David Noe, of the classics department, and Corey Roberts, of the German department, were both let go from the university. The Handbook for Teaching Faculty allows for tenured professors to be laid off if the programs in which they teach are eliminated.
The eliminated programs will continue to offer required courses to existing majors and minors on a limited basis, but the affected programs will not be offered to incoming students.
“The provost and deans are working with affected programs and faculty to re-imagine how core elements of those programs can continue at Calvin,” Le Roy said. Opportunities for studying Dutch and German abroad will continue, as will the German minor. Dutch and Chinese offerings will be limited to core requirements.
Many current and former faculty members were outraged and saddened by the elimination of programs so closely linked to Calvin’s historical mission and reputation.
