Article archive / October 1, 2009
Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 3.
Budget cuts are impacting colleges around the country, combined with “unprecedented enrollment growth” on the back of the largest high school graduating class the nation has ever seen, as noted on the National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education’s website.
Psychology Times spoke with three Chairs at Louisiana campuses that are feeling the expected pressures, and doing well. Some are coping by working harder, and adapting where needed to keep standards high for the students.
Dr. David Williamson, Department Chair at University of Louisiana at Monroe has been teaching behavioral statistics for years, is his own secretary, and often answers his own phone. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm for the field of psychology comes across immediately, as does his confidence in seeing his department through any rough times. “We’re doing good,” he said. “We’ve reduced some offerings, but no tenure track people were laid off. And, we’ve got this year covered. We didn’t have too many budget cuts. But we can absorb more cuts if needed,” he explained. While not a time that the department can grow or add many new courses, “The US economy would have to get far worse and be gloomy forever more, to be a problem.”
Dr. Robert Matthews, Chair at LSU in Baton Rouge, said, “At this point in time we have the same operating budget as last year. Except for a hiring freeze we are operating as normal.” He noted that Arts & Sciences gave up some vacancies, and some assistantships were lost. But morale is good and the department is well prepared to see the recession through. And, the quality and variety of activities at LSU continue, for both faculty and students, with most of the cuts coming in the non-academic areas.
At Northwestern, Acting Chair Dr. Susan Thorson- Barnett is aware of the uncertain economic climate, but copes with a positive relationship with her administration and a proactive approach to handling lean times in her team.
“Everyone is teaching more. Even the Provost is teaching three classes,” she said, describing the underlying positive climate and natural teamwork that is common to this college and to the mid-size, friendly city of Natchitoches. NSU flags wave on the cobblestone front street of the charming, historic town, and along LA 6 to I49, showing the local support and pride in the University.
Dr. Thorson-Barnett explained that maintaining morale by sharing the extra workload, supporting one another, and expressing appreciation, helps to buffer the faculty in stressful periods. “We have wonderful instructors, and many have taken on the overload. Everyone at every level is pitching in,” she said.
She feels fortunate to have avoided the furloughs, and tenured faculty are secure. While there have been some reductions in face-to-face adjunct staff, the department has a “huge, online program” and adjunct instructors have been able to take on some of these classes. She also noted that the graduate faculty still holds to their typical high standards when supervising graduate students’ theses, noting that everyone is pushing harder when needed.
While at times frustrating, she said that everyone pulls together and stays prepared to help reduce the negative aspects of a tighter budget. The Department’s Administrative Assistant, Lanay Baldridge, said, “Everyone is coping by being as prepared as we can be. We have a wonderful team.” When asked how she was doing, Ms. Baldridge answered, “I’m not a worrier, so I just cope, and count my blessings.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.