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• Vol. 114 • Issue 6 • March 26, 2021
44 Faculty jobs at-risk of termination MATTHEW GOLDSMITH
News Editor University of Central Missouri President
Affairs Phillip Bridgmon sent his
his retrenchment decisions by midday
faculty positions should be terminated.
Roger Best is expected to announce Friday, March 26 after he reviews recommendations.
Best had initially planned on finalizing
his decision by March 12, but he decided to push back his decision because of
differences between reviews from UCM’s Academic Program Review Committee,
Academic Review Board and the Provost’s office. He said the lack of agreement between the three led to more timeconsuming data review.
“It’s something I would have looked at
anyway, but because of the discrepancies
in the sense of recommendations, I had to
recommendation to Best on March 1,
in which it was recommended that 44 The College of Health, Science and
Technology and the College of Arts,
which Bridgmon defined as the start of a
will be negatively impacted by this process.
Burris said she was disappointed by the
retrenchment, that’s a failure on many
Religious studies Director Catherine
ARB’s decision.
“I think it’s a recognition of the reality
Humanities and Social Sciences had the
that in our current budget situation, which
17, respectively.
continue after the pandemic, very small
most positions recommended, with 16 and Bridgmon expressed gratitude for his
colleagues and how they’ve handled the process.
“I’m very appreciative of the
consciousness of our colleagues, their
commitment to UCM,” Bridgmon said. While Bridgmon acknowledged
retrenchment is a difficult process, he said
started before the pandemic and will
programs are simply less feasible than they used to be, and I understand the reality of that,” Burris said.
Burris said religious studies is important
in today’s environment, specifically
mentioning the involvement of extremist
religious groups in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Despite the ARB’s ruling, the ARB noted
he is hopeful for the future.
in its recommendation that it fully supports
reviewing data, reviewing appeals,
retrenchment and then begin working
coursework at UCM and mentioned a
had submitted as part of the review
again,” Bridgmon said.
spend a lot more time than I anticipated
reviewing what the programs themselves process,” Best said.
Best said the retrenchment decisions are
challenging on a personal level because of their impact on UCM employees.
“It’s never a process that we enjoy,” Best
said. “It’s never a process that we take lightly.”
Best was satisfied with how all levels
of review approached the retrenchment process in a serious manner.
Provost and Vice President for Academic
“My hope and goal is to get us through
together so that we can begin building Bridgmon said he wishes the UCM
community will look back at the
retrenchment process, while difficult,
However, Bersin believes that UCM is and
process that discontinues a program.
the need to include religious studies
“If we’re at this point right now in
levels of this institution that we got to
this point because the damage, even now and with the probable outcomes, will be
permanent and irreversible,” Bersin said. “This institution will cease being what it
was and will be significantly less than what it was.”
While acknowledging that there are
cases in which people aren’t vulnerable to
retrenchment, Bersin cautioned those who will remain at UCM.
“No one at this institution, even with their
seniority and their rank, should be doing a happy dance that they’ve escaped the consequences of this,” Bersin said.
Other programs that appealed to the ARB
certificate program that might provide
were the BA/BFA theatre programs, which
the program is currently in the process of
accepted the program’s appeal with an 8-2
an alternative to the minor. Burris said trying to institute the program.
Michael Bersin, an ARB representative for
were placed within Category 3. The ARB
vote. Interim Head of Theatre and Dance
Kathleen Leicht thought the ARB’s decision
as one they worked through together to
the College of Arts, Humanities and Social
future.
approached the retrenchment process.
and dance will continue to play a major
recommended that two of the Category 4
Bersin said. “The people on the ARB were
campus,” Leicht said.
psychology master’s program and religious
the ARB believe that they made the correct
ensure a strong foundation and a brighter UCM’s Academic Review Board
programs that appealed their ruling, the studies minor, be placed in abeyance,
Sciences, was satisfied with how the ARB “I would say it was very thorough,”
diligent, and I believe that the people on decisions.”
on their appeal was good news.
“I’m confident and optimistic that theater
role in the Warrensburg community and on However, Leicht mentioned the programs
might still lose positions as Best makes his final decisions.
COVID-19 vaccines bring hope Eligible students to recieve funds
ZAYIN BARNES
MATTHEW GOLDSMITH
Reporter COVID-19 cases are down, vaccines
News Editor Students at the University of Central
are being distributed and there is hope
Missouri will be receiving funding from
that the world is getting back to normal.
a second round of Higher Education
While the University of Central Missouri
Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II).
has had a total of 946 COVID-19 cases
Bill Hawley, Vice President of Finance
this school year, as of March 19, there is one student case and three faculty/staff and faculty are getting vaccinated.
vaccines. The first doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were dispensed in early March. On March 15, Missouri
began vaccinating members of Phase 1B tier 3, which consists of those who keep
the essential functions of society running. Some of these include K-12 teachers and childcare workers, government officials, food processing employees, Other areas
include the communications, energy and dams’ sectors, information technology sector and transportation and water/
waste employees. The state of Missouri announced plans to begin Phase 2 of vaccine distribution on March 29.
This gives more students and staff the
opportunity to get vaccinated, which
includes UCM President Roger Best, who received his vaccine on Feb. 23.
“The actual vaccine administration was
UCM President Roger Best recieved his vaccination Feb. 23, 2021. Many UCM students and faculty are hopeful that next semester can be back to normal as more COVID-19 vaccinations are distributed. Photo submitted by Robin Best
very easy,” Best said. “The process that
Western Missouri Medical had set up from sign-up all the way to actually getting the vaccine, and the actual administration
part, was one of the easiest shots I’ve ever
gotten. It was less painful than the flu shot and some other vaccines I’ve had.”
Best said he did experience some side
effects from the shot, including fatigue, soreness where he received it and a
headache, but these are all common side
effects of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I would suggest doing your research and
making sure JUMP TO PAGE 2
are less than part time and international students won’t receive funding.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the
UCM student body in many different ways.
those with direct deposit, or ACH, set up
and health major, said he feels being on
will be mailed physical checks.
hopes the HEERF II funding can help with
receiving payments sooner than those who
Missouri has been distubuting more
credit high school students, students who
and Operations, said funds will be sent
out to students on March 25 and 26, with
cases that are active, and more students
The funding won’t apply to the entire
student body, however. Pearce said dual
The amount each student receives
depends on their enrollment status and estimated family contribution, and it
ranges from $150-$1,200 per student. Hawley said the HEERF II funding is
intended to assist both the university and
its student body, and there will be another
Brock Bookout, junior occupational safety
campus is more boring this semester, but events COVID-19 has impacted.
“With the restrictions we have, we aren’t
able to do as much as what we could be
doing without COVID, and with the extra funding, that may help us out with some things that were missing out on.”
Junior marketing major Alex Gamblin
round of HEERF funding in the future.
said the HEERF II funds are beneficial for
so as the rules come out, we’re figuring
COVID-19 has brought.
“We’re getting those additional funds,
out the best way to utilize those funds for
the good of the students, the staff and the campus as a whole,” Hawley said.
David Pearce, UCM’s Executive Director of
college students because of the challenges Many students take out loans to pay for
the cost of attending a university, but the
HEERF II is intended to relieve this strain. “It would be extremely helpful because
Governmental Relations, said the funds are
with COVID, it’s been harder to work and
retention of at-risk students.
pay for tuition, for housing and for every
for emergency relief and to help with the
“It’s designed to help them stay in school,
for any extra expenses that they might have had,” Pearce said.
that means less money and less money to
college costs there is, so that extra little bit would definitely go a long way,” Gamblin said.