To Whom This May Concern,

We, the undersigned,  are concerned students, alumni, and friends of the School of Communication at Chapman University. We have recently heard rumors of an impending merger with Wilkinson College. We would like to express our dismay at this prospect and explain our concerns. 

We have, along with many others, enjoyed the immensely enriching educational environment provided by the School of Communication at Chapman University. This unit has fostered a sense of kinship, knowledge, and community, the essence of which has profoundly influenced our personal, academic, and professional growth.

 As Jim Doti’s quote in the halls of our academic home states, “Knowing each student as an individual is the key to a personalized education. Such knowledge gives faculty the key to unlock doors of opportunity that stretch students so they excel, making it possible for them to tap hidden interests and strengths.”

We are grateful that our School of Communication exemplifies this quote in terms of access to the high-touch, personalized resources and involved faculty in the SoC such as Trailblazers (the first-generation serving club), faculty advising, the School of Communication Student Advisory Board, Lambda Pi Eta, Chapman Radio, all made possible by accessible and enthusiastic staff and instructors. We dread the thought of future generations being kept from experiencing this complete form of individualized education by having the School of Communication merge into Wilkinson College.

The proposed merger threatens to dilute the unique individual characteristics, the wide range of courses, and the close-knit community that both Wilkinson and the SoC are renowned for. As CU presidential candidate Dr. Parlow mentioned in his recent Town Hall, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, students graduating from specialized units tend to fare better in terms of income and overall job satisfaction. We are fearful that, without immediate additional resources and a long-term thoughtful plan to keep the spirit of both units intact,  students, alumni, faculty, and staff in the School of Communication, Wilkinson College and Chapman University overall will suffer as a result. 

We are asking for a thoughtful pause to this merger to ensure that the impact on all students, faculty, and constituents are being considered.

Our largest concerns about this merger are as follows: 

1.     Lack of Resources: We have been told we are in a budget crisis. Regardless, both units are currently working very well. However, if this merger were to happen, Wilkinson College with the School of Communication would have around 1,600 students for one career advisor and two academic advisors.

2.     No true benefits of the move have been made known to students and faculty from meetings with the Provost, In fact, those of us who work in admissions understand that the School of Communication 3 year and first-generation graduation rates, internal applications, and melt rates are some of the best at Chapman University.

3.     We are unaware of any reason for this merger other than “streamlining.” This move would actually cost Chapman University money in addition to upsetting students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Alienating constituents while enhancing the current budget crisis does not appear to be a fiscally responsible decision on the part of Chapman University.

We stand at a critical juncture where the decision you make can alter the lives of many young undergraduate aspirants. This, therefore, is a heartfelt request to reconsider your decision and preserve these esteemed units in their current form, which means keeping them separate.