10/22/2015
The Campanil - Mills College Mail - Statement on the Proposed Budget Cuts: Initial Requests
Emily Mibach <eic@thecampanil.com>
Statement on the Proposed Budget Cuts: Initial Requests 1 message Jacklyn Snodgrass <jsnodgrass@mills.edu> Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 8:25 PM Cc: academicfeedback@mills.edu, deanofstudents@mills.edu, President's Office <president@mills.edu>, provost@mills.edu, Mills First Years <millsfirstyears@mills.edu>, Mills Sophomores <millssophomores@mills.edu>, Mills Juniors <millsjuniors@mills.edu>, Mills Seniors <millsseniors@mills.edu>, Mills Grad Students <millsgrad students@mills.edu>, Mills College Transfer Students <transfers@mills.edu>, MFA Book Art Student Group <mfabacw@mills.edu>, nonresident MFA students <bookartthesisgroup@mills.edu>, eic@thecampanil.com, forrest@thecampanil.com, Mills College Board of Trustees <trustees@mills.edu> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement on the Proposed Budget Cuts: Initial Requests On October 19, 2015, Mills College released a memo entitled “Transforming Mills’ Curriculum for the 21st Century.” In this memo, the school rolled out its proposal to cut some of its most historic and renowned programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in Book Art and Dance. The period provided for public input is very brief—just three weeks, concluding on December 1. On the evening of October 22, a large ad hoc group of students and alumni met to discuss this proposal. We understand the proposal to be indicative of a national trend in higher education where the arts are cut in an effort to maximize profit. Many students, faculty, and alumni disagree with this strategy: these cuts would be ineffective financially and a betrayal of the school’s identity. In the interest of a good faith negotiation, and in the spirit of collaboration and community, we have two initial requests of the administration, Board of Trustees, and Cabinet Members: • An extension on the period of comment. Three weeks is not sufficient for our community to consider and respond to the proposal. We request that an extension be given to a future date agreed upon by meaningful representatives from all concerned parties. • Transparency in this process. We request that the administration release the school’s operating budget, as well as the full report from the contracted consulting firm. Without full release of the relevant data, we cannot have a meaningful discussion. We submit these requests to the administration and board of trustees. If these requests are not met, good faith negotiations cannot commence. As the schedule stands now, the period of public comment is too brief to be meaningful. We demand a substantive public process. We invite undergraduate and graduate departments at Mills, as well as student clubs and organizations, to endorse, support, and share this request. We request a response to these demands by or in advance of the community forum scheduled for Wednesday, October 28.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=d086341442&view=pt&search=inbox&th=15092ba9466c005c&siml=15092ba9466c005c
1/1