Some Western Illinois University students reacted with disbelief upon learning the university laid off 35 non-tenure track faculty members last month and that more layoffs are likely.
“I saw that and immediately was just very shocked,” said Emma Nelson, an Advertising and Public Relations major.
She said one of her professors told her that he would not be returning in the fall to teach her.
“I was supposed to have him in the fall and I was also going to have a research opportunity in the spring. He was probably one of the best teachers that I’ve had at WIU,” she said.
Nelson became emotional about losing this professor. She questioned why the administration chose him.
“If he was the best teacher I’ve had then who else was chosen?” Nelson said. “So, I don’t think it is just a loss for me as a student paying, but it is also a loss for WIU.”
Emma Lowe was also notified by a professor about the layoffs. Lowe is an Agricultural Science major, a member of the Sigma Alpha professional fraternity, and president of the Pre-Vet Club.
She couldn’t believe it when the Sigma Alpha advisor, Jana Knupp, told members that she would not be returning in the fall.
“Jana was such a vital part of our school, and I just don’t know how it is going to go this year without her,” Lowe said.
In addition to Sigma Alpha, Knupp advised multiple agricultural-based clubs, ran the department Facebook page, and Ag Council.
“I guess I’m just a little stressed about who’s going to take over her role because she had such a big role. There are big shoes to fill,” Lowe said.
Lowe plans to graduate in May and go into Vet school next year, and so far the reduction in faculty has not changed her schedule.
However, Lowe said Knupp taught many of her freshman year courses and was important to her first-year success at WIU. She’s sad for incoming students who won’t get to have that experience with Knupp.
Other students learned that their favorite professors will return in the fall, and for them there’s a sense of relief.
Biochemistry major Hannah Eden feared losing her favorite professor and research advisor before learning she was spared.
“I’ve been working on a project for two years and if my professor was gone, everything that I worked for is practically gone,” Eden said.
Research experience, she explained, is important for science majors. She has been doing cancer research with the same professor for two years and thought about transferring if her professor was cut.
“So, I was very relieved to hear that she is going to be here,” Eden said.
Advisors are also feeling pressure from students who are trying to compensate for courses canceled and professors who are gone.
Jennifer Grimm, Advisor for the School of Communication and Media at WIU, told the Board of Trustees about a student who is no longer able to take the classes she needs.
“The student in question had three of her courses in the department of Broadcasting and Journalism canceled,” Grimm said. “Those were courses required for her to graduate with her degree.”
Grimm told the BoT that the department will help this student and others like her graduate by substituting classes. This means that students will be taking courses to gain enough credit hours to graduate, but not courses that specifically align with their specialties.
Interim President Kristi Mindrup emailed a statement about the layoffs to students on August 6.
“When you return to campus this fall, you may notice some changes. In order to reduce expenses to better match the size of our student population, we are making adjustments to increase efficiency of campus operations and services,” Mindrup said in the statement.
“Part of this plan also includes reductions in personnel, including some valued members of our faculty and staff. These decisions are not made lightly. These changes will position WIU to evolve successfully.”
Students are taking action with an online petition on Change.org urging administrators to stop upcoming layoffs.
“When the professors that current students rely on are cut, the education Western promised them will be compromised. When the programs that future students are interested in are diminished, they will have less of a reason to enroll,” the petition said.
Petition organizers said their goal is to obtain 500 signatures. As of Aug. 7, they were about halfway there.
Jaycie Doerr is a Broadcasting and Journalism major whose course schedule was impacted by the layoffs.
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