The future of the University of Wyoming is uncertain amid conversations of the proposed academic reform.
The proposed reform combined with the proposal for the School of Computing has caused even faculty members to present their concerns to ASUW.
“It doesn’t make sense to me to both downsize and upsize a university at the same time,” Donal O’Toole, a past chair of the Faculty Senate and professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences said.
On Oct. 26 at the weekly ASUW meeting, the ASUW Senate invited President Seidel to speak to them about the School of Computing and the academic reform proposals.
These questions and concerns turned into a much larger debate about the future of UW, and why both proposals were being pursued simultaneously.
O’Toole voiced concerns before the senate about the speed at which both proposals are moving.
“If you’re about to spend $32 million, you better do it right before you do it fast,” said O’Toole in regard to the speed with which the university was pushing the School of Computing.
This statement echoed the concerns voiced by ASUW in their previously discussed resolution on the School of Computing proposal, Legislation 2757.
Legislation 2757 was passed by the ASUW senate in a 24-0 vote on Oct. 26.
The resolution stressed that members felt not enough information had been presented to them or students to make an educated decision on the matter.
O’Toole described the academic reform as “the most tumultuous reorganization of this campus I’ve seen.”
President Seidel spoke at the meeting as this week’s special event and put forward his own thoughts on the school of computing proposal and the academic reform.
“Entire industries are turning upside down at a rapid rate,” Seidel said in response to concerns about the proposals moving too fast. “Universities move rather slowly.”
Seidel feels the School of Computing will be a helpful addition for the university to better benefit the surrounding and state economy. All in hopes of bringing in new students and forge potential partnerships with organizations in the field.
Concerns regarding the academic reform occurring at the same time as this new school were also discussed by Seidel.
Sidel hopes parts of the reformation could bring increased focus on studies to some departments.
Such as reorganizing aspects of the Arts and Sciences College to focus it as a college of “Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences” while moving other sciences, such as physics or biology, to a college of “Engineering and Material Sciences”
Seidel also expressed his optimism and hope that the number of at-risk faculty positions will decrease even further from the currently suspected number of 10.
Despite the presented optimism and lengthy discussion with ASUW, Seidel’s comments did not change their stance on the aforementioned resolution regarding the school of computing.
During the discussion of the reform, a first-year senator spoke in front of ASUW as a whole to express their concerns.
“I can’t in good conscience support the creation of a new school,” the senator said. “I am not opposed to the school, however. Why are we creating a new school when we lack data on interest?”
They further described it as “very hypocritical” in the midst of “deep budget cuts” to be considering this proposal.
This was one of the numerous statements said by senators that expressed the same concerns regarding the presumed lack of research, information, and clear communication on the school.
