Dear President Bowen,

We write on behalf of the alumni/ae of Goucher College, specifically from the departments of Elementary and Special Education, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Religion, Russian Studies, Studio Art, and Theatre, in response to the August 15th, 2018 announcement to phase out these majors from Goucher’s curriculum. Our shared hope is that you will reconsider this decision for the sake of the future of Goucher, the flourishing of which we believe is a goal we have in common.

Looking back on our time at Goucher, each of us found deeply rewarding experiences in the majors slated to be terminated. We untangled thorny math and physics problems in the Athenaeum until sunrise, stepped into other characters and worlds in Meyerhoff, and discovered the rich complexities of the structure of music in our learning of music theory and analysis. Those of us in Education understood, even then, that the future of this world lies with our children. And how incomplete would any college’s understanding of the world be, were it to lack the study of human religion? And is this truly the historical juncture in which to cut Russian Studies in the United States?

Select classes are no substitute for a major. We believe that if these cuts are implemented, Goucher cannot truly claim to provide the breadth of knowledge that is fundamental to a liberal arts education. If Goucher’s future graduates can neither sing nor do math, nor act nor appreciate physics, nor teach nor understand religion, what sorts of people does Goucher now see itself as sending into the world in the years to come? Will professors wish to teach at such an institution? Will students wish to attend?

As you clearly expressed, Goucher is not experiencing a financial crisis, and in fact has undergone major developments in infrastructure with the addition of three new buildings in recent years. It is surprising that the college has chosen to invest in new buildings but not in its existing programs. Perhaps with additional support from the administration, these departments could see bolstered enrollment, and the enthusiasm of the average Goucher student to learn these subjects would increase as well. Furthermore, these programs have many markers for success beyond class size, in the form of research opportunities, publications, commissions, or in the many successes of its graduates.

Speaking as graduates of these majors, we have gone on to do great things. We believe that this is a direct result of our majors. We have become internationally renowned composers, special education teachers in underprivileged schools, professors of mathematics, doctors, engineers, astronomers, and more. We view the knowledge that we received at Goucher as fundamental, and we believe that a true liberal arts institution offers these programs in their entirety. All of us deeply treasured our time at Goucher, and have continued to praise and donate to the school for years after. The decision announced on August 15th would force us to end much of this support.

We urge you to allot the necessary resources to save these departments and promise job security for all tenured and tenure-track faculty members in these departments, in deference to the hard work of the faculty to build up these programs, the enthusiasm of current and future students to attain this knowledge, and the value and critical importance of these fields both in and beyond Goucher’s campus.

Sincerely,

The alumni/ae of the departments of Elementary and Special Education, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Religion, Russian Studies, Studio Art, and Theatre