Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
``If we tried to push this through, maybe in the long run, it [could] hurt us,'' said Jim Stutts, a member of the board of visitors, which voted Wednesday to back off.
Instead, the university will fold global teaching concepts born at the college into the core curriculum. Although it's unclear how that will be done, an example might be adding classes in international business skills to the requirements for a basic business degree.
The board's vote came one day after Radford officials met with Allen administration officials in the governor's office in Richmond, said Radford Rector Bernard Wampler. It was clear then that the administration would not budge from its proposal to cut $2 million in operating funds for the new college.
But Wampler also said it was ``clear from the start'' - Dec. 19, when Allen unveiled his budget - that it would be an uphill fight to save the college.
``Perhaps [the college] wasn't understood properly. Perhaps we didn't have it defined enough,'' he said. ``I thought its time had come.''
State Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro said she was pleased. ``Our problem with the New College of Global Studies was the lack of rigorous academic focus in that program,'' she said.
Sgro said she would strongly support an international focus at Radford, if taught in traditional disciplines. In other words, a student should learn accounting first - then international business skills.
As designed, the college would have eschewed traditional classes and taught through televised classes or the Internet, a worldwide computer linkup. Students also would have traveled abroad.
Left wondering what to do now are 14 employees, including six faculty members hired in late summer to develop a curriculum. Most left the security of tenured jobs.
Also left hanging are five students of ``unbelievable quality'' who have been accepted into the new college, which was to open with a class of 50 next fall.
``It would be very difficult to turn any of them down,'' said Eugene Carson, associate provost for admission at the college.
Meredith Strohm, provost of the new college, said she will stay on the job until the fiscal year ends July 1 and will try to help her faculty find new jobs, perhaps at Radford.
As for the students - for whom such prestigious universities as Stanford and Georgetown are second choices - ``I don't think we'll retain them,'' she said.
Strohm also said she thought the college could have mounted a good fight in the legislature. ``Significant expressions of support'' had come from business leaders and legislators, including the Senate Finance Committee.
``We will have a lot of work to do to explain why the university has backed away from this project ... [Legislators] also will have serious questions about the ability of Radford University to embark on a project of this scope and stature again,'' Strohm said in a statement to the board.
But she also conceded that the board ``made the decision they had to make.''
The decision comes amid other problems at Radford that may have tipped the scales against the new college. Interviews begin later this month with 12 candidates to replace former President Donald Dedmon, who departed last summer amid controversy.
This fall, Radford's state-ordered restructuring plan was rejected by the State Council for Higher Education. Allen promised cuts to universities that missed an October deadline to submit acceptable plans. True to his word, he lopped $1.6 million from Radford in his budget unveiled last month.
That's basic operating money the school can ill afford to lose, Wampler said.
``We feel and have been pretty well assured by the administration that funds for restructuring will be restored,'' he said Wednesday.
Wampler also pointed out that the Allen administration has not touched the $4 million building being designed for the new college, which will be used as the college grows.
Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, R-Fincastle, said he thought the board was re-evaluating in the face of a tough budgetary year that demanded the same from all agencies.
If Radford had fought?
``Well, you've got another budget process next year,'' Trumbo said. ``Certain agencies answer to the administration on construction. The secretary of education is making public comments that would make one tend to think that the entire educational program at the university might be scrutinized.''
The board decided it was ``not going to jeopardize the totality of university programming,'' he said.
by CNB