LANSING - A four-person panel at Lansing Community College was bombarded Friday by questions and objections about the possible elimination of six programs from the college curriculum.
Students, faculty and residents packed a room in the Arts and Sciences Building, 419 N. Washington Square, to address the recommended elimination of the aviation, court reporting, dance, dental assistant, medical assistant and quality assurance programs.
“I think the elimination of the programs is an attack on the performing arts department as a whole,” said Johnathan Dunn, an LCC commercial music sophomore. “I think the dance programs serve as a very viable marketing tool for the college. Eliminating the dance program is a very costly mistake.”
The panel consisted of LCC President Paula Cunningham, Interim Provost Jennifer Wimbish, James Predko, dean of careers, and Gary Knippenberg, dean of liberal studies. The officials said they evaluated several circumstances before making the recommendations.
“What we try to do is focus on where the program revenue is coming in from,” Predko said during the forum. “Then we looked at the cost of the programs.”
The panel based its elimination recommendations on cost, program size, employment opportunities, faculty and staff information, community impact and alternatives. Officials said the programs aren’t generating enough money or participation.
The LCC Board of Trustees will begin reviewing the recommendations at a Feb. 19 meeting.
“We’re working with facts, folks,” Cunningham told the crowd of about 200. “I know this is an emotional issue and we want to hear everything you have to say. We will respond to the comments as best we can.”
Individuals questioned the motives of the institution, how officials tallied the statistics and the proposed program changes.
The elimination of the six programs allows the college to add resources to others, officials said. Programs that could receive additional resources include developmental education, automotive, massage therapy, biology, computer information systems and distributive learning.
Although 16,500 students are enrolled at LCC, only 200 students are in the jeopardized programs.
The panel confirmed that students in the programs will be able to complete program requirements or change to another curriculum if the programs are cut.
