We have been informed by upper administration, in the just released Academic Affairs Realignment Report, that the philosophy major program is included on a list of programs determined to go into “immediate provisional status” (it appears we were spared “immediate discontinuation”). The terms of those “provisions” make it clear that the termination of the program is imminent. That is, “provisional status” is really a death sentence for the major. This is further confirmed by the “recommendation” that the department be dissolved, and the faculty merged with some other department by the end of the semester. As documented extensively at www.sunypotsdamphilosophy.com the administration has no good reason for making these decisions, and plenty of good reasons to overturn them.

Thus, we respectfully request that the decisions to place the philosophy major at SUNY Potsdam on provisional status and to dissolve the department be unconditionally rescinded. Given that the goal of the realignment process is to move the campus towards fiscal stability, and given that the department’s “Academic Alignment Template Report” clearly demonstrates that terminating the philosophy major is more likely to cost the college money than to save it any, the decision to terminate the program appears unmotivated, at best.  The decision appears even more poorly justified given Potsdam’s claim to be a comprehensive liberal arts institution. For full supporting documentation of these claims, please visit www.sunypotsdamphilosophy.com

We also call upon the administration to provide the resources—in particular, to provide the faculty—to staff the department at least minimally in order to begin rebuilding the program to its former flourishing state. To be the first 4-year comprehensive in the SUNY system to lack a philosophy major would surely make SUNY Potsdam distinctive, albeit in ways that are unflattering, at best. 

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