You may have heard two phrases rather frequently around campus recently: "department restructuring" and "strategic directions." Your best friend may have heard a rumor that her major is being cut. Your professors might be discussing how best to exercise their "political capital" in order to save their departments. Or maybe you haven't heard anything at all about the Strategic Directions report on Academic Quality and Structure—so why should you care? And if you already care, what can you do? First, the facts.

The Strategic Directions report on Academic Quality and Structure was published this summer along with several other reports in response to President McPherson's request two years ago to re-evaluate the mission and identity of the college. The report recommends that various changes be made to the departmental structure of the college. These recommendations are primarily based on comparisons with other liberal arts colleges and are in response to both curricular concerns and the projected budget deficit for Macalester. The goal of the changes is to reinforce the pillars of the college (academic excellence, multiculturalism, internationalism and civic engagement) and save the college fourteen faculty positions. Essentially, the college saves money by not having to hire new full-time faculty for those struggling departments the report recommends removing. Among those departments named for removal are Communication Studies, Linguistics, Geography, Education, and Neuroscience Studies.

So what does all this mean? Are those departments really going to be removed? Can you graduate with your declared major if the departments are cut?

The most important thing to remember is that the Strategic Directions report is simply a set of suggestions. None of the recommendations may ever be approved. A new committee has been established to deal with all allocations (money for new courses, new profs, department operations, etc.) requests from now on. It's called the Educational Policy and Governance committee and it will make all the decisions about the Strategic Directions report. The committee is chaired by Professor David Itzkowitz and includes Professors Michelle Wright, Andrew Latham, Ruthann Godollei, Gary Krueger, James Heyman and Jaine Strauss, Dean Ellen Guyer, and Provost Dan Hornbach. Two students also sit on the committee: Academic Affairs Commission Chair myself and Erla Petursdottir, ‘03. These students are responsible for soliciting all student input on the upcoming decisions.

So you have an issue with the report? You have questions about what's happening with your department? First, remember the recommendations of the Strategic Directions report are just that—suggestions. Second, all students currently declared as majors in the affected departments will be able to graduate with their major intact. Third, get involved! MCSG will be putting out a survey about the criteria EPAG is using to make their decisions and the Strategic Directions Report. Students have been randomly selected to respond, so if you get the survey, send it back to us! We need to know what you want done! So come and tell us what you think! These decisions cannot, and will not, be made without student input.