In his recent update on the status of budget discussion, Dean of Faculty John Beckford outlined the university’s plan to reduce the number of full-time faculty by relying on retirements and resignations, and initial reactions suggest that faculty are supportive of the plan, though many said it still leaves many questions unanswered.

Professor Bannon Andersen, Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, expressed what seems to be a common faculty opinion, agreeing that “the path we’re on can’t be sustained” while maintaining that it is not acceptable for budget cuts to sacrifice academic quality or vigor.

“We will have to rethink things, and everyone will have to learn to adapt to changing circumstances,” Andersen said.

Andersen expressed concerned that department assistants, who facilitate student and faculty interaction and function as a department’s public face, are also at risk.

Professor Gilles Einstein, Chair of the Psychology Department, said that he did not expect the plan to have much of an effect on the department in the short term but that he hopes that the department’s programs will not be compromised. He also emphasized the importance of keeping tuition down and continuing to provide financial aid to strong students.

Einstein added that he hopes that potential changes to the curriculum resulting from the downsizing of the faculty maintain a focus on student learning.

“I hope that the redistribution [of FYS courses] doesn’t dampen or eliminate exciting or popular seminars,” Einstein said, pointing out that seminar courses often introduce students to their major.

In the Mathematics Department, Professor Bob Fray agreed that “it’s probably necessary to reduce the size of the faculty” even if enrollment numbers increase. More stringent enforcement of minimum course enrollments could disproportionately affect smaller departments like Mathematics that cannot always fill upper-level classes, potentially endangering the integrity of the majors.

“Everyone is still holding their breath,” Fray said, arguing for the need to recruit more students into STEM area majors.

Fray agreed that the university would need to more consider instituting new programs imposing “obligations not a part of our core academic program,” especially those dependent on limited grants.

Biology Professor and Chair of the Faculty Joe Pollard served on the Cost Cutting Advisory Committee that advised Dean Beckford and said he had been concerned about the release of probationary faculty, many of whom are well-respected assets to the university. But he said that everyone from Dean Beckford down wanted to avoid releasing these faculty members and that, looking at the numbers for projected retirements, he was confident the university would not need to resort to that option.