|>ej*dl Slit Volume 6, Number 16 College At Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York ,December<A -jDecember/lQ, 1985 Tanksley Proposes Curriculum Revision Faculty Hiring By Mary Kay Linge "bridge" course in the freshman year and a capstone seminar for juniors, both drawn from the Decreeing "closure" on longstanding curriculum Mellon experiment. Further aspects would be Freeze Declared issues. Dean William Tanksley outlined sweeping composition, speech, language, math, and science proposals for a new core program at CLC. In a requirements, plus area requirements in the By Tom Wrobleski memorandum to the faculty dated November 8, disciplines. Tanksley anticipated that a new core curriculum "I think this was principally [Tanksley's] own Due to a decline in CLC enrollment, vacant full-time faculty posi- will be in place by Fall '87. product," said Dr. Stewart Guthrie, chairman of the tions at the College will not be filled, according to a memorandum "A single 'interdisciplinnry core' shoulr1 \- Curriculum Committee of the College Council and from Dean William Tanksley. Full-time teaching positions, known member of the Mellon Committee. "We had not as lines, can become vacant due to retirement, resignation, or tenure met on it. It was news to me." denial. The decision will take effect in the fall of 1986 for the '&6'-XJ Excerpts from memo on page 3 "There comes a time when someone has to make academic year. a decision," said Dr. George Shea, former head of The November 5 memo, distributed to CLC divisional chairper- sons; went on to say that lines from existing programs may be designed to replace the FIP, Mellon, and Excel op- the Mellon Committee. "I see much merit in the switched over to programs "of potential and actual demand" in an tions," Tanksley stated in the memo. He also re- dean's proposal." attempt to offset the general enrollment drop. quested anonymous "reactions and apprehensions' Severely affected by Tanksley's proposal is the At the College Council meeting held November 19, Tanksley said from faculty members and directed the Mellon Excel program. Tve had some questions about the that Vice President for Academic Affairs Rev. Richard Doyle, S.J., Committee to assess the program's strengths and need for separate programs," Tanksley said in an and Executive Vice President Joseph Cammarosano decided that limitations. interview. "The world has changed from the time the decline in student numbers at Lincoln Center had to be dealt The Mellon Committee was charged with ex- that Excel was created, with the result that the adult DEAN TANKSLEY with, and that as lines opened up they would have to be pulled back. amining Tanksley's proposed core curriculum. student coming to school now is not nearly the Tanksley continued, "Objections were raised by a number of peo- This core would include an interdisciplinary continued on page 3 ple to the way this was done. I think that jt was crazy. Frankly, I've said that and it won't be a surprise to anybody in the administra- tion. The fact that we were not consulted, that there was no discus- sion, that a decision was made on the vice presidential level.. and that the result was sort of leaked and then announced as accom- Tanksley plished, I think was not an appropriate way of handling the situation." Repeated attempts to contact Fr. Doyle by telephone for this ar- ticle were unsuccessful. Cammarosano also could not be reached. Immediately affected by the decision will be the Division of Social Sciences, which will have an open line in the economics depart- Discusses Futurement- elrminated, according to Social Sciences chairperson Frederick Travis. "It has a decided impact on our division," said Travis. "Hopefully, we can keep up the course offerings, because that is the one place where we cannot afford to be cut. The economics program is the of CLC one with the growing enrollment and the highest class-size average in the division, and possibly the college." According to enrollment figures, the economics program at CLC grew by 38 students be- By Cyril I'enn tween the fall of 1984 and the present. Travis added that he had received a tentative oral agreement from Dean of the College at Lincoln Center. Dr. William Tanksley. Fr. Doyle this fall to fill the vacant economics line, but ihut the ap- brought his new ideas to the College at Lincoln Center Alumni proval has now been withdrawn. Association (CLCAA) at their annual meeting on November 20th. "This was done without any consultation of us at that point, or "I do not want the sense that in four years of Lincoln Center you as far as that goes, at any point from the Academic Vice President's arc handed your diploma and shown the door." he said. "You are office. My understanding is that he didn't consult the new dean extremely valuable resources-we need you." either." Travis said. Tanksley said that the curriculum of CLC is under review. "You'll "I can't completely second-guess them." he added, "but on the probably hear about it if you haven't heard about it yet. I wrote other hand. I would have liked to have had some opportunity to something which has been referred to as the 'Mega-Memo," he said, discuss our particular needs." He went on to say that he had re- discussing a ten-page memorandum to all faculty that strongly sug- quested, through the dean, a meeting with Fr. Doyle and Cam- gests some major changes in curriculum to be in full operation by marosano to discuss the decision's impact, "but they indicated that fall of 1987. "We have to look at ways of extending some areas, con: they would not come. So that's where we are now." solidating others, and finding new avenues," Tanksley explained. Concerning the vacant economics line, Tanksley stated that, not He did not describe specific proposals. "I don't want to go into a only does the economics program have the second-highest student- whole range of questions and concerns," he said. credit hour production per full-time faculty member, but that it is "My feeling is that in twenty years you will come to be known one of the few programs in which enrollment is holding or as graduates of the best-kept educational secret in America-Fordham increasing. at Lincoln Center," Tanksley said. "We need to find a way of defin- "It doesn't seem to me to have been politic and reasonable to cut ing what is distinct about us, and then letting the world know." He back that particular division ."Tanksley said. "That point has been A Tree Grows continued on page 3 continued on page 3 At CLC Dorm Decision Near By Adriana D'Andrea a health facility, and a "meeting space," said Fr. Moran. Eight proposals for a Lincoln Center dormitory The dormitory, which has been budgeted $15 have been under consideration by a University million by the university, will be completed by committee, according to Assistant Vice-Prcsideni either the fall of 1987 or 1988, according to Fr. for Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Students Moran. "We had hoped that it would be finished Rev. Denis P. Moran, S.J. The committee will by the fall ol"87, but it would be more realistic to make u decision on these proposals shortly after say the fall1 of '88." its las], meeting on November 26, Fr. Murnn said. The dorm committee has interviewed prospec- Fr Moran added, "It has to be kcpl in mind that tive architects for the past "two or three" weeks, there is no wuy thai we can solve all of the needs according to Fr. Moron, committee chairman. of Lincoln Center with this one building. Down Features of the dormitory were specified in a "pro- the road, we have to think of future buildings." Fr. A blood drive sponsored by Sigma Alpha /eta in conjunction gram" given by the committee to the architects on Moran mentioned u theater to accommodate the Blood with the New York Blood Program was held during (lie week which their plans arc to be based. The dormitory proposed UFA program nlong with another class- of November 4, About 150 donors were recruited on Hie plaza building should consist of apartments for 500 beds, room building ns future possibilities. Drive level to give blood on November 7 in the Pope Auditorium. .>.-"• -'* The Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Entrepreneurs Society of Fordham University cordially invite you to attend a seminar on 'Entrepreneurial Excellence" iiath Oaili—Founder of Unlirni Hancy —Founder of the /omen" boutique Debm Ctaaratan—Founder of Realty-.;- :•;'..;;• , .'•' •' .>;;: Date: Wednesday, December 4, 1985 Time: 5 PM to 7 PM Place: Fordham University Student Lounge 113 West 60th Street (Room 412) New York, Hew York 10023 Telephone (212) 841-5250 Free Admission Ftee Refreshments will be sewed. •> CLC Observer. All rights reserved. Dtctmbtr4,1985/The ObserverI'page 3 Freeze continued from page 1 made several limes and is probably not subject to another review. tive of quality. At least there'll be less concern about need and quality treated with respect. It's created suspicion." The answer given back is (that) we have a problem that we have not just to hold on to the line." The long-range problem, according to In regard to the administration, Dean Tanksley said, "If the faced, and if we're not going to face our problems, they (the ad- Meyer, is that a person tenured under these circumstances could message is 'get the house in order,' we got that message.