Letter to the Editor on Ramapo College Schedule Change: 'Recent actions taken by the administration ... have led me to question my decision to transfer ... and forced me to question my future at ... campus.'

Dear Editor,

I have recently transferred to the College of Ramapo of New Jersey, which has recently instituted a controversial academic schedule change. This change will affect not only students, but also invaluable faculty members. The following statement will consider these changes; discuss their impact; and anticipate their future consequences.

Making Ramapo a part of my life was initially an easy decision. Since I was looking to change my academic major from history to environmental studies, I welcomed the prospect of joining an institution that has a rich and bold history of championing environmental justice and the emerging mentality of world sustainability. Recent actions taken by the administration, however, have led me to question my decision to transfer here and forced me to question my future at this campus.

On January 30, 2015, an announcement was sent to all students via email concerning a change in the academic schedule to be effective by the Fall Semester of 2015. These changes surprised many, as it was not initially discussed through or disseminated to the student body. In short, the changes are an attempt by the college to properly adhere to federal government college standards that mandate that classes meet at least 200 minutes per week. For example, I am currently taking one course that meets twice a week for a total of 180 minutes.

To make up for the lost 20 minutes of “in seat” time, and in conjunction with their 4 credit courses, the college required their professors to implement a course enrichment component (CEC), which instructs students to seek 5 hours of off campus experiences that are relevant to the course in which they are taking. This graded aspect is in line with federal minimal standards that state that courses should include “2 hours of per week of ‘outside-of-class’ preparation per credit hour.” This also includes routine weekly homework assignments.

The issue with the CEC is that the college fears that neither are students properly completing it nor are professors thoroughly regulating it. Still, the college has the responsibility to make sure that their faculty is properly implementing this policy. With the change, Ramapo College is now making the CEC an optional piece, which can be instituted by the professors’ discretion. This represents a backtrack in the college’s academic policy, something that made the school attractive to past prospective students, and is an admission that the administration has failed to properly institute their curriculum.

The college’s baseline reason for the schedule change is valid. However, it leads to more disturbing consequences that are sure to follow. For instance, as a commuter student, I will be forced to drive to campus more often and stay there for less time. Based on undisclosed and subjective research, the administration has stated that students learn more efficiency when they are in courses that meet more often, yet less frequently. By extension, the college will start to limit the variety of 3 hour courses, which adversely impacts commuter students, as well as academic majors that offer such courses. Some courses may be eliminated all together. My new major, for example, may be seriously impacted.

Adjunct professors, who make up a large percentage of the faculty, will also have to be on campus more often. The changes will force them to question whether it is worth working for the college, or be forced to choose between this college or any other colleges where they are currently employed. In tune with many colleges that have reduced their adjunct employees to a suppressed class, Ramapo is aiming to unethically follow suit. Many faculty members, as well as representatives of the teacher’s union, have already vocally protested these changes.

The new academic schedule has been implemented with no student input either by students like me, the student government, or professors. At a recent information session, it was stated by the administration that these changes were inevitable, leaving little room for future negotiation. All the while, these changes are being implemented in the wake of recent on-campus sexual assaults, a string of alcohol-related student hospitalizations, and a divisive new alcohol policy. Ramapo is justifying their schedule changes to combat these problems in an attempt to make faculty more accessible to the student body by obligating them to be on campus more often.

An academic schedule change will not improve these serious on-campus problems. In fact, it is a distraction from other policies or goals that have the direct ability to combat such issues. This includes improving the efficiency of campus security or a better alcohol course, which is already required. As one of many commuter students who do not party on campus, the administration’s reasoning overlooks my concerns, and alienates my demographic. Ramapo will not solve their internal issues by instituting this bold change. Instead, it will threaten admission rates and influence students to choose other academic institutions.

With this, it is clear to see that there has been an evident backlash to the changes from both students and faculty. I am continuing to voice my opinion about this subject, and this correspondence is a result of that. Please be aware that all the preceding opinions are my own, and were not influenced or forced by any other individual or party. 

Respectively,

Andrew McConnell

Ramapo College of New Jersey Student