Faculty vote to end Russian studies major
By: Jessica Adams
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
After much debate over the future of the Russian studies major, DePauw faculty decided to remove it during Monday's faculty meeting.
According to a statement released by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning at the meeting, CAPP proposed the change in response to a lack of a steering committee or a director to lead the Russian program. During the summer of 2007, Vice President of Academic Affairs Neal Abraham placed the program on suspension and took the issue to CAPP. After looking over the program, its enrollment information from the last 10 years, as well as meeting with the former director of the Russian program and the chair of the Modern Languages Department, CAPP recommended the program remain under suspension, and stipulated if a steering committee was not assembled by Feb. 29, CAPP would recommend discontinuing the Russian major.
In late February, the Russian studies program assembled a steering committee for fall of 2008 under the terms that only a Russian studies minor would be offered.
Bob Hershberger, chair of modern languages, was sad to see the major go.
"This is a time of mourning and dark consternation," he said. "But we are trying to strengthen the Russian minor."
The minor will be strengthened by letting Russian studies students take related classes in the religion and English departments, as well as the standard language and culture classes offered by the Russian studies department.
Russian professor Masha Belyavski-Frank wants to see the change as a new beginning. She suggested students interested in pursuing a Russian major should construct an independent major in order to continue their studies
Sophomore Dionne Gomez said she plans on doing just that, though she said the steps to fulfill an independent major can be difficult.
"This school is making it so hard for me to do my major," Gomez said.
She added that she was pleased to see increased options in Russian studies through taking courses in other departments.
Belyavski-Frank said the program will soldier on despite the loss of major status.
"We do have a Russian Studies Committee with interest in continuing the Russian studies, and right now we have four students minoring in the program," Belyavski-Frank said.
According to a statement released by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning at the meeting, CAPP proposed the change in response to a lack of a steering committee or a director to lead the Russian program. During the summer of 2007, Vice President of Academic Affairs Neal Abraham placed the program on suspension and took the issue to CAPP. After looking over the program, its enrollment information from the last 10 years, as well as meeting with the former director of the Russian program and the chair of the Modern Languages Department, CAPP recommended the program remain under suspension, and stipulated if a steering committee was not assembled by Feb. 29, CAPP would recommend discontinuing the Russian major.
In late February, the Russian studies program assembled a steering committee for fall of 2008 under the terms that only a Russian studies minor would be offered.
Bob Hershberger, chair of modern languages, was sad to see the major go.
"This is a time of mourning and dark consternation," he said. "But we are trying to strengthen the Russian minor."
The minor will be strengthened by letting Russian studies students take related classes in the religion and English departments, as well as the standard language and culture classes offered by the Russian studies department.
Russian professor Masha Belyavski-Frank wants to see the change as a new beginning. She suggested students interested in pursuing a Russian major should construct an independent major in order to continue their studies
Sophomore Dionne Gomez said she plans on doing just that, though she said the steps to fulfill an independent major can be difficult.
"This school is making it so hard for me to do my major," Gomez said.
She added that she was pleased to see increased options in Russian studies through taking courses in other departments.
Belyavski-Frank said the program will soldier on despite the loss of major status.
"We do have a Russian Studies Committee with interest in continuing the Russian studies, and right now we have four students minoring in the program," Belyavski-Frank said.
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