Combining the currently scattered integrative studies centers is an excellent idea, but it must be done correctly. Today, there are three centers that direct curriculum. In the future, it would be best housed by one.

Currently, integrated studies of social science, general science and arts and humanities classes - in other words, your ISPs, IAHs and so on - often overlap and leave students feeling like they are not processing new information. In order to be a success, the program must be designed so the classes act as building blocks, and not mirrors of lectures past. Integrative studies professors - those actually interested in teaching their course - and administrators also need to establish a dialogue; communication is vital to the life of this program, if passed.

Another key factor to the success of the program is hiring and placing professors into a social science subject who are truly passionate about what they are teaching. Having an instructor teach a class simply to pay the bills while they are continuing their research is grossly unfair to students. A professor must be dedicated to their students and subject; when a professor does not put a significant amount of time and energy into a class, it shows.

It is important the Integrative Studies Planning Committee carefully weighs the options at hand. Much like the proposition to streamline MSU's liberal arts, creating a new, single center is not something that can be done halfheartedly. Students and their academic experience at MSU is at stake. That's not something the committee should, or could, be gambling with.

This program, if correctly implemented, would strengthen MSU's curriculum and the university overall. If the glaring errors in the present system are carried to the new center, though, MSU again will have wasted resources on the integrative studies program.