Home  News Local News FIU could cut degrees and jobs
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FIU could cut degrees and jobs |
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Sunday, 01 June 2008 |
According to a recent report in the Miami Herald, Florida International University (FIU), a state owned university, has submitted a proposal in which it could eliminate 17 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and lay off a large number of employees in an effort to assist the college to adjust to the severe budget cuts made by the Florida Legislature.
The cuts in degree would include courses in teaching, nursing and engineering, and as much as 176 employees could be laid off over the next three years, and an additional 100 positions could be eliminated through attrition and job vacancies.
According to the report, the college is required to cut $14 million from its budget, which is in addition to $10 million in cuts that the college made earlier this year. The new proposals were submitted last week by the college before a large crowd of students, faculty and staff, at the University Park campus’s Graham Center in Miami. Concerned students, mostly from the faculties of engineering, nursing, health sciences and education demonstrated against the possible elimination of the degree programs. The college’s Board of Trustees will vote on the proposal on June 12.
The elimination of some education degrees could have a negative impact on the Miami-Dade County Public system that recruits graduates from the FIU College of Education. The proposed cuts would eliminate degrees for English, math, science, social studies, and exercise science teachers.
FIU has over recent years built a reputation of attracting students from the Caribbean, and African–American students, to its campuses in South-West and North-East Miami. Several of its graduates earlier this month were Black students from the Caribbean, Florida and neighboring states. It is the largest university in Florida and has an estimated 38,000 students, but because of its budgetary woes has been turning away qualified students. If the new proposals are approved, it could deny admission to a greater number of students to its courses.
The proposed cut in degree courses is having a very serious effect on Marlene and Melonie Griffiths, Caribbean residents in Sweetwater, Miami-Dade. Both girls, aged 21, and 19 respectively, had long planned to attend FIU to study for degrees in education. Their applications have been pending, and now with the proposed elimination of several education degrees, they are not optimistic of being accepted. “We would have to start applying to new colleges, all over again, if we can’t get in. But we really want to go to FIU. It is a very good school and plus it is easier for our parents, with the school being so close to our home; here in South Miami-Dade,” Marlene told National Weekly.
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