A plan for significant cuts which left students and staff shocked and upset was released prematurely, the University of Otago says. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery, Otago Daily Times
A plan for significant cuts which left students and staff shocked and upset was released prematurely, the University of Otago says.
Science communication divisional head Professor Jesse Bering this week announced significant cuts to the division in an email addressed to students.
“As you might imagine, this has been a difficult letter to write.
“I wish it could be a different outcome, but the forces that be are much larger than us,” he said.
However, yesterday a university spokesman said the email was sent out prematurely and proposed changes to the course had not been finalised.
“We have today advised staff and students that the information they received from the department about possible changes to science communication was premature.
“We are finalising a proposal for changes to the curriculum, which will be sent to them later this month for feedback.
“Whatever the final decision may be, students will be able to complete their current degree.”
Bering’s email said from 2024 the separate division would be downsized and incorporated as one programme within a larger sciences department.
Only two fulltime academic staff would remain.
The division’s long-standing film programme, which many of its graduates had received awards for, would no longer be offered.
Master of applied science in science communication student Millie Gillard, 23, said the extent of the cuts in the original email shocked staff and students.
“Immediately everyone went to the pub.
“Everyone was pretty upset and the staff were upset, too.”
The plan came as a surprise as this year’s cohort had been larger than previous years.
Half the intake was international students, who had waited patiently through the pandemic to take the course.
She said students were concerned cuts to the extent outlined in the original email would damage their prospects for employers.
Richard Marks, 23, said the cuts outlined by Bering were significant.
“For any and all future students it’s one of the biggest, for lack of a better phrase, kick in the nuts.
“I’d feel very bad for a lot of the current students that are going to be there.”
He had heard about impending cuts for a long time, but the extent came as a surprise.
“Even getting the email and reading through it, just the sheer size of how much stuff is being taken out ... It makes me worry about the bigger courses.”
The department had only just become its own recognised division last year.
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