A list of recommendations for the EIU's vitalization project is in. For the last few months a team of nearly 70 Eastern Illinois University administrators, faculty and students have been working to identify new marketing strategies, program sustainability and student enrollment growth. The team was split up into nine different work groups. Some of the recommendations include consolidating or eliminating different academic programs such as chemistry, pre-engineering and philosophy. Philosophy professor Grant Sterling says just the thought of the major being cut is disappointing. Sterling says the thought of the philosophy department being eliminated is upsetting. He says not only do they have a major and minor, but the religious studies minor is a part of the department as well. Sterling says it's disappointing the work groups are focusing the cuts on financial needs. He says, "The concern is the decisions would be based on numbers and that there wasn't time for the members of the committee to get to know the departments and they were just going to look at some numbers on a spreadsheet somewhere and make the decision on that." Sterling says history or political science would be departments that work well with the philosophy department. He says conflict of interest could make it difficult when it comes to scheduling and financial needs. He says, "I think it diminishes both of the departments, you have to take into account there's going to be scheduling issues and setting up courses and the different times. You have to deal with the departments budget." Philosophy major Susan Jenkins says she's not worried because she's graduating in the spring, but the thought of her professors losing their jobs is upsetting. Other programs recommended are the bachelor's programs in Adult and Community education, Africana Studies and Technical Education. The recommendations are now being prioritized by the university's administration. Two work groups are still completing their information. The final decisions will be posted on the Vitalization Project website but a time frame for those decisions hasn't been announced.
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