Physics department concerned about visibility after merging of two departments

Corey Strickland | Staff Writer

After a 15.8 percent budget cut (or $16.6 million) passed down from the UNC Board of Governors this past year, UNCW has been forced to make many drastic decisions to accommodate these cuts.

The proposed merger of the physics and physical oceanography departments and the geology and geography departments has been the first cut to directly affect academics. The merger will take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Merging these two departments will save the university $80,000, but professors in both physics and geography and geology are concerned about the long-term effects.

“We’re concerned about how this merger will affect the visibility of the physics department,” said Dr. Russ Herman, Chair of the physics department.

Physics is not traditionally a major that produces many graduates, but Herman said UNCW’s physics program has a very high graduation rate in physics compared with other universities. “While we might have only ten graduates in physics every year, we train our students for graduate school. Forty to 50 percent of them go on to graduate school after acquiring their undergraduate degree.”

But decreased visibility would result in a lower number of student majors and less faculty members. “Not having a standalone physics department can translate as science not being as important to the university. We could be sending a message we don’t want to send,” said Dr. Curt Moyer, professor of physics and faculty senate member.

Some students have been upset by the merger and have applied to other universities with a standalone physics department. “We try not to discuss the merger in classes. The students will still get their degree in physics, no matter what the name of this new department is,” said Herman.

Both worry that a lack of visibility could eventually lead to the quality of the department decreasing and that ultimately, a physics program would not be necessary.

Moyer attributes the merger to the size of the physics department and said, “It’s like comparing apples to oranges, comparing physics to other departments.”

Both Herman and Moyer agree that the merger was not designed to better both departments, only to save money.

“The amount being saved is a poultry sum compared to the effects of what they’re doing,” said Moyer. “The implications of this merger could be devastating.”

Already faculty morale in the physics and geology and geography departments has suffered. Members are devoting a large amount of time to the question of what to do next.

“The physics program is still alive. It is not an academic cut, it was a structural one,” said Cathy Barlow, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are working on maintaining the autonomy and visibility of both departments in light of the merger.”

With three consecutive years of budget cuts, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences David Cordle said, “We are working to preserve faculty and the classroom instruction.” Both Barlow and Cordle stressed that the merger is merely a structural change with the loss of a chair position and a staff member, not an academic one.

Another concern was the procedure regarding the merger implementation. When the merger took effect in July 2011, Moyer said, “There was no discussion on any level, we were simply told how it was going to be. Prior to that, none of us had any idea that a merger was even being thought of.”

The issue of procedure relates back to the idea of shared governance. While it is not an explicit rule, decisions such as the issue of merging two departments are usually discussed and shared with the faculty senate.

“We have delayed implementation of the merger so the faculty senate has time to review,” said Barlow. “The faculty members are right to be concerned, we’re concerned as well. This is not the last budget cut, but it is important to note that programs are not being affected by this merger.”

While there is time available to review, Dr. Herman feels that “no one is coming with an alternative to saving this money. Maybe, as a result of this merger, those affected will come up with innovative ideas. But I’m not sure if we will get to that point if our numbers diminish.”