The College of Education’s decision to freeze admissions to the special education visual impairment program is disagreeable and detrimental to the college and the university.

Administrators from the college and university have placed a hold on admissions for new students after the recent resignation of Professor Susan Bruce, essentially the program’s leader.

The visual impairment specialty includes deaf blind, visual impairment and orientation and mobility education and is only one of two visual impairment programs in the state.

There are currently about 30 students involved in the program, who have been assured they will be able to graduate with degrees in special education visual impairment.

The National Federation for the Blind is planning to sponsor a rally June 8 in front of the Administration Building to support the program.

A $1.5 million grant intended for recruitment was recently awarded to the department, but may be in danger if the program doesn’t have enough students, Bruce said.

This is a terrible time to put a hold on admissions. If the special education program can’t get new students, it risks losing large amounts of grant money.

The administration is reviewing the program as a result of Bruce’s resignation, but a review seems unnecessary. This is an important program, and cutting it would be a negative move.

The university appears concerned about numbers, but that shouldn’t be an issue. The program isn’t very big, but it is very valuable. Not only is it the only deaf blind education program in the Midwest, but it has been proven especially useful to local teachers in need of assistance for blind students.

The administration’s lack of support for the program is appalling. Bruce, who had been at MSU for nine years, was never given tenure, so it’s not a surprise she would leave. Then when she does, the university puts a hold on admissions.

Altogether, the administration is completely or partially responsible for the loss of a professor crucial to the program, a lack of new students and jeopardizing a $1.5 million grant. It almost looks as though it’s trying to phase the program out of existence.

If this is true, it’s not a surprise it’s not being forward with students, who have complained that the administration is being less than cordial about the situation.

It may be that the program is costing the university money, but it is well worth it. While some programs, such as athletics, are valuable monetarily, others are valuable because of their service to the public. Graduates of the visual impairment program will help teach children what other teachers can’t.

When former head football coach Nick Saban left the team, the university didn’t place a hold on admissions for football players so it could “review” the program. Likewise, a review is not necessary for the visual impairment program. What is necessary is a search to replace Bruce’s position and keep the program going strong.