I received both statements - I go by the president.
Many young people are questioning the value of a four year degree, regardless of whether it's founded or not. It is foolish to deny that reality, but certainly the messaging and marketing can be adjusted to counter-act the perception. It was the Chancellor, not a campus President (I presume you meant ours), who made that public statement.
If you were aware of the budget issues, it seems odd that you would think that it wouldn't affect academic areas, but only sports. At this level of cut, we are likely to see both across the board budget reductions and "deep and narrow" cuts.
The people who only question the value of a 4 yr degree or master's are the people who believe the propaganda fed to them by the right. Notice the righties don't say to not get a degree for their children only the working person, that shows value there. I am well aware of the President's message today, as well as all budget issues.
I am well connected with the current campus environment, so I don't think you have a very full understanding of what is going on with academics, and certainly don't seem to understand the severity of the budget cuts that are coming down the pike.
I am familiar with the academic options available to people over 60, but just recently, the CSU Chancellor announced plans to re-orient the CSU focus away from graduation rates as a measure of success, and pivot towards career orientation and job acquisition as more and more students and parents question the value of a four year degree.
You opinion of academics is so far off what is going on is, nothing personal is meant. Please stay focused on athletics, I personally think if next years budget (25-26) university budget is reduced again on top of 24-25, but changes will happen with sports and not academics.
What the external community is not important and is not based in facts. Our school is of great value and has a high level of scholarly learning going on. If you are over 60, you can take a full semester for $5, I challenge anyone here to get a masters or any degree they are interested in, the best deal in the country. Then oy can experience the educational process at LB in the 21st century.
First of all, I meant to post this under the AD podcast thread, and mistakenly created a new thread that looks to be out of left field. That was a mistake.
I was responding to his comments in that podcast, and my questions about his vision and leadership have to do with the fact that the President seems to have given up on Athletics and handed it over to a bean-counter Vice President to oversee.
My questions remain: What is the plan for the Athletic department and the programs in the new NCAA environment? Will the programs be able to continue offering the same number of scholarships, will they be distributing those funds up to the new roster/scholarship limits (as equivalencies), will the Department be leading the way for fund-raising, or will each program be responsible for its own fundraising and allowed to use the funds it raises? This the NCAA reality now and we don't have any idea what the plan is (not to mention that it seems certain that there will be state budet cuts to the CSU of at least 8-10%, which mean enrollment decreases and even layoffs).
As far as academics, what the external public thinks about us is enormously important--I can't believe you actually said the opposite. We are a high demand campus, but our academic reputation has suffered. Long Beach used to be regularly rated only behind Cal Poly SLO and sometimes San Diego State for academics, but we are no longer ranked as Best Values in our category or the Best in the West regional universities. Cal Poly Pomona was recently rated much higher than we were academically (not to mention Fullerton). That's unacceptable.
Who cares what external people think about academics? We are doing well.
Smitheran has been here for over a year. What is his vision for the future of the Athletic Department? Is he even in charge?
Conoley destroyed our fund-raising base. Athletics fund-raising is dismal. The landscape is is changing, but our most loyal donors and alums do not like the academic and athletic direction the campus has taken notwithstanding the NCAA. The AD and President need to give a clearer picture of the future and their vision and support for athletics if they want to build back support.
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