Rather than pull the plug, administration is going to try to breathe the life back into the computer science department.
The department hit two road blocks last year after its only full-time professors, Tom Conoley and Denis Popel, unexpectedly resigned to take industry jobs.
Baker University recently released a job description in order to replace two professors who quit last year.
“We have a two-year plan,” Rand Ziegler, dean of the college of arts and sciences, said. “We are going to do a search this year to fill one of the positions by next fall.”
Ziegler said after one professor is hired, the new faculty member will help select the second instructor. He said it’s estimated that both positions will be filled by fall 2009.
Senior Nick Wasser, a computer science major, said the administration has been slow reacting to the situation, reflecting a lack of care for the department.
“The fact that Baker just put out a job application means they are doing as little as possible for the department,” he said.
Ziegler said the job description was not released last year because administration took time to review the program and consider all options. He said a committee was assembled last spring to evaluate the program.
Jean Johnson, mathematics, physics and computer science division chair, served on the committee.
“Administration thought that it was a good time to review the program,” she said. “We looked at everything.”
Johnson said the committee considered several options: restructuring the program, eliminating it or maintaining and repairing it.
Johnson said the committee didn’t spend much time talking about eliminating the program because there was a clear interest in keeping it.
“The problem is that computer scientists are in very high demand,” she said. “It’s a little bit hard to find people who know the subject and are willing to teach it in a small environment like Baker.”
Ziegler said the committee formulated a specific job description designed to attract the ideal candidate for the position. He said releasing the job description at the precise time is crucial because it affects the quality of the candidacy pool.
Johnson said the committee also decided to eliminate one major in the program: Internet science technology.
“We have one person in that major,” she said. “We will make sure he will complete the program, but we will not continue to offer it.”
Johnson said the program revisions have not affected enrollment.
Terri Blake, senior associate director of admissions, said admissions counselors tell prospective students the program is being revamped, but also let them know that there are still people capable of teaching the information for the major.
Wasser said he is pleased the lack of full-time instructors has not prevented him from attaining his degree.
“Baker has an obligation to every student to do everything it can as a university to allow students to graduate with their intended degree,” he said.
Ziegler said until the positions are filled, students will miss out on a lot of the personal attention full-time instructors provide.
“I feel bad because those students don’t have the advocacy of a full-time instructor,” he said. “I can certainly sympathize with their position.”