MADELINE GRIMES: Inconsistencies, concerns with YSU’s approach to Dana’s program cuts
Much of the backlash to the impending program cuts and faculty layoffs at the Dana School of Music is rooted in the harsh reality that YSU’s leadership has made the conscious decision to weaken one of the university’s greatest treasures. The administration’s insistence that it aims not to destroy the music school but to instead “reorganize” does little to comfort those who understand Dana’s place as a foundational pillar of its parent institution.
It is all the more offensive that the administration’s rationale for Dana conflicts with reality. Not only are some enrollment figures cited in support of the program cuts verifiably inaccurate, but the justifications provided by those in power are disingenuous and short-sighted.
On Dec. 6, Dr. Pintar presented an Academic Master Plan that details programs with low enrollment and market outlook. The presentation contains conflicting enrollment data - for example, the Music Performance graduate program was identified as having five or fewer students when Fall 2022 14th Day Enrollment Data data shows 20 students - and neglected to provide citations into crucial (non-standardized) economic designations such as “low to no market share” and “employment demand”.
The educational environment of a music student differs from others because it is deeply interdisciplinary, interconnected, and facilitated by faculty who are hired as experts to work in their applied areas; When highly specialized faculty are asked to compromise time and attention in their areas of expertise, the student experience erodes. In addition to basing program decisions on a data period of historically low music school enrollment from the rolling effects of COVID-19, how can we trust that appropriate methods were applied in the evaluation process?
Concerned community responded to the Academic Master Plan - the only information available on pending program cuts at the time - with a petition. In only a few days, it amassed over 10,000 signatures.
On Sunday, Jan. 7, YSU released a statement “addressing misinformation” that it will not sunset the undergraduate Music Performance program or the complete Graduate program; instead, it would only eliminate four programs from the Dana School of Music: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music in Composition, Master of Music in Composition, and Master of Music in Jazz Studies.
However, the following day, YSU News Center released a statement in which it named three programs to be cut: the BA and MM in Music Composition and the MM in Jazz Studies. Why is this information inconsistent?
Danaalumna Heather Sirney recently voiced her concern that “the administration is going to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. You can’t cut something down like this and expect people to think they’ll earn an education that is worthwhile.”
Therein lies the issue: the administration wants the public to believe that program and faculty cuts are isolated events–that Dana can afford to lose programs in Music Composition and Jazz studies and remain strong elsewhere.
Will talented young musicians still choose a Youngstown State University that lacks programs fundamental to music education? Enthusiasm and enrollment will decline, and the administration will use this as a rationale to cut more programs and lay off more faculty in the next round of “reorganization.” While the administration is not closing the Dana School of Music in 2024, it is clear that the process has begun.
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