UofChicago financial strain and the consequences for arts & humanities

[Anonymous]

Saw this today:

https://chicagomaroon.com/48215/news/uchicago-arts-humanities-division-to-restructure-amid-historic-funding-pressures/


UChicago to restructure arts and humanities programs amid financial strain: report
https://www.chicagobusiness.cohttps://www.dcurbanmom.com/m/education/uchicago-restructure-arts-and-humanities-programs-report


The University of Chicago reportedly plans to restructure its Arts & Humanities Division in the face of financial strain.

UChicago Dean Deborah Nelson announced five faculty-led advisory committees have been created to pinpoint opportunities to reduce costs, the Chicago Tribune reported yesterday, citing an email the dean sent to faculty in June. Proposals are to be submitted by the end of August and put into place starting the following academic year in 2026.

These include: consolidating the division’s 15 departments into eight and reducing language courses and minimum class and program sizes, according to the university's student newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, which first reported the changes. Similar restructuring processes are occurring university-wide, spanning various schools and divisions.

“As at many universities across the country, focused planning is needed to advance the University's mission in a rapidly evolving landscape for higher education nationwide,” the university told Crain’s in an emailed statement, calling the restructures “strategic.”

Nelson pointed toward cuts in federal research funds and changing international student and graduate loan policies, as well as the nation’s broader economic uncertainty, as the reasons for the restructuring, according to the Tribune.

“Status quo is not an option,” Nelson wrote in an email to division faculty, according to the Trib. “To simply copy and paste means the inkpad will run dry, and the Division of the Arts & Humanities will very soon be a pale, indecipherable version of what we once aspired to be.”
........

[Anonymous]

Why do people copy and paste something and offer no commentary? Don’t you have any thoughts or questions, OP?

[Anonymous]

If you want to be a true humanities major, I think SLACs are where you should go.

This is so sad. And happening everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be a true humanities major, I think SLACs are where you should go.

This is so sad. And happening everywhere.

I agree. Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Clifford Ando is essential reading on the issues at the U of C: https://chicagomaroon.com/40932/viewpoints/op-ed/west-virginia-chicago-is-happening-to-you-the-fight-for-the-modern-university/

It's been badly mismanaged for a while now. As an alumnus, I'm incredibly disappointed. It was a special place for me.

[Anonymous]

Also probably understanding $80,000 plus per year for a humanities degree is probably not that popular of an idea anymore.

[Anonymous]

All colleges are under financial strain. Not seeing how UChicago is different in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All colleges are under financial strain. Not seeing how UChicago is different in that regard.

Many SLACs don't appear to be at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All colleges are under financial strain. Not seeing how UChicago is different in that regard.

Many SLACs don't appear to be at all.

This is true because the top SLACs have very large endowments and they are not very dependent on federal money, especially research money. At the top SLACs federal money is only 2-3% of their budget. They could lose all of it without issues though I am sure that it would be annoying for a year while they moved a few things around but it is not consequential for any of them. The top SLACs will be in a better place financially than top universities for the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be a true humanities major, I think SLACs are where you should go.

This is so sad. And happening everywhere.

LACs are gutting their humanities faculty to historic lows. Universities are where the humanities action is remaining!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people copy and paste something and offer no commentary? Don’t you have any thoughts or questions, OP?

She has lots of thoughts on UChicago that she posts weekly and responds to many times as a sock puppet.

That said, this particular bit of info is dismaying and likely to happen at many other top research universities. There will be consolidation, unfilled positions, and larger class sizes at many thanks to the anti-intellectual, anti-science policies of this administration.

[Anonymous]

What is this article saying? They can't attract humanities majors to U of C? Or they are cutting them?

[Anonymous]

I believe this is a result of college costs getting so high. I believe in learning for learning’s sake, and I’m encouraging my kids to study and major in whatever they are most interested in.

However, when you start talking about out of pocket costs of $40k a year, I can see how so many make an roi based decision for choosing a major, which pushes people into business/engineering/premed/prelaw/nursing/etc. there’s no roi for literature/philosophy/art, even though people with those majors go on to contribute to the richness of our culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people copy and paste something and offer no commentary? Don’t you have any thoughts or questions, OP?

She has lots of thoughts on UChicago that she posts weekly and responds to many times as a sock puppet.

That said, this particular bit of info is dismaying and likely to happen at many other top research universities. There will be consolidation, unfilled positions, and larger class sizes at many thanks to the anti-intellectual, anti-science policies of this administration.

I have not posted on UChicago before....maybe someone else?
Watching bc I have a kid interested and subscribed to their paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is this article saying? They can't attract humanities majors to U of C? Or they are cutting them?

I think its both?