President to Share Final Prioritization Proposals

The prioritization process enters its final stages this week as President Swartzendruber formally presents the Prioritization Steering Committee's (PSC) recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees will receive a full presentation on the prioritization process and results during its meeting March 24-25. Swartzendruber will seek required Board approval for the PSC's slated changes to majors and minors.

President Swartzendruber received three formal appeals to the PSC's original recommendations, which have generated concern in the EMU community over cuts to prominent programs.

The formal appeals concerning the International Agriculture major, the journalism minor, and WEMC funding all received favorable consideration from Swartzendruber to adjust the programs instead of discontinuing them.

Under consultation with the Presidential Cabinet, Swartzendruber approved refocusing the International Agriculture major on sustainability issues instead of discontinuing the program. The President also postponed discontinuing the Journalism minor to allow further review.

Based on an appeal from Station Manager Jon Kauffman-Kennel, President Swartzendruber approved adjusting the schedule for discontinuing WEMC funding to allow the station to pursue other sources of funding. Instead of decreasing funding by 25% over three years, EMU will provide 75% of its current funding over the next two years. EMU will discontinue all funding of WEMC at the end of those two years.

The slated discontinuation of funding for WEMC has generated some outcry from the community. WEMC hopes to secure funding for the future through consulting various interest groups and government sources. While Swartzendruber agreed in a recent interview that the closing of WEMC would be a "real loss," Swartzendruber said radio is not the top priority of the communications department. The PSC has also recommended cutting funding for the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium, which was once one of the best planetariums in the nation and still gives regular public shows. "Historically, it's a unique program," stated Swartzendruber, but he described the planetarium as "outdated" and "expensive to renovate."

Another vital program for the greater Mennonite community slated for changes under prioritization is the Menno Simons Historical Library. The unique collection of Mennonite historical materials will be integrated as much as possible into the main library's collection. According to Swartzendruber, the collection will remain intact with the prioritization recommendation dealing more with staffing and training.

Swartzendruber maintained hope for programs used by the community that are losing all funding from EMU. Outside donations are welcome to sustain these programs in the years to come.

When asked about cuts to these historically valuable programs, Swartzendruber stressed that balance is a struggle for any university. "If our institution is not financially strong, then we can't focus on anything," concluded Swartzendruber.