Dear President Wubah and MU administration,

It is incredibly discouraging when a group of students feel marginalized and invalidated by their school. This is exactly how the physics students feel at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. The STEM students and faculty at Millersville University are deeply concerned about a possible decision that has been circulating throughout the school year; the decision to shut down our Physics program. While there are areas where the department could improve, removal of the program would be detrimental for everyone in the long term, leading to a discredited STEM program, a decline in the output of Physics teachers, and a contribution to a decrease in global competitiveness. Millersville's Society of Physics Students has created a committee called MPPAC, Millersville Physics Protection and Advocacy Committee, consisting of many different STEM majors from Physics to Biology, all fighting because they know the impact this decision has on them. 

Millersville University is one of the best schools in the PASSHE system to pursue physics with one of the most robust programs. A majority of the PASSHE schools have already gotten rid of physics or only offer a physics engineering major. Lower- and middle-class students who want to pursue a degree in physics rely on the existence of state schools like Millersville University because they are the most affordable. As a result, it is of the utmost importance for PASSHE to have those options available to students from rural areas and areas of low accessibility. In addition to this, Millersville University has produced more physics teachers than most other institutions in the state in previous years. There is a gap that exists in STEM education in the US, and with high school physics being a prerequisite for most STEM careers, and a critical decline of teachers, the disposal of the physics program at MU would only be contributing to a much more deeply rooted issue. If more and more universities remove their physics program, the United States becomes weaker in scientific global competitiveness. Despite low enrollment in physics programs nationwide, the job demand for physicists is only increasing, with innovation in quantum computers, medical physics and imaging, renewable energy, semiconductors, defense weapons, space exploration, and much more. Physics is arguably one of the toughest disciplines to study, and has never been very highly enrolled because of that, however, physics is an ever-expanding field dedicated to understanding the universe so there will always be a need for physicists. The short-sightedness of this decision is especially worrisome because it only focuses on immediate concerns such as budget cuts and low enrollment without taking into account the long-term consequences. 

Moreover, if a current student is pursuing Physics at MU, they would rightfully be concerned for their future. Imagine a student applying for a graduate school and they see that the student has a B.S. in Physics, but the university that awarded the degree to them no longer has an accredited or operational Physics program. It would be incredibly frustrating for the students, they may feel betrayed even by their university because their administration thought their area of interest wasn’t important enough to keep. The students in MU’s Physics program are all incredibly ambitious and take pride in their work. Taking away the program would create an atmosphere in which the students feel undervalued by their administration. Additionally, it would be insulting to the current faculty if the University were to go through with this decision because it dismisses the hard work and dedication they put into their department. It will be impossible for the University to fill those shoes. The students and faculty are so passionate about physics and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their program. 

Despite the late notice of the department’s potential termination, SPS and MPPAC have been working with the Physics faculty to come up with solutions to better the program and boost enrollment. The proposed changes are as follows: 

·       Changes in curriculum

o   Removing prerequisites that may be unnecessary for certain courses will help physics majors stay on track

·       Rebranding the physics major

o   Ensuring new students know what their potential career paths are after graduation is important because some students don’t see a clear path with a B.S in physics unless it’s graduate school, but there are many options available without graduate studies. 

·       Adding concentrations

o   Medical physics is becoming very popular. With it being a newer field, adding such a concentration could draw in students who are interested in medicine and physical applications in the medical field. 

·       Building relations with local high schools who can help promote the program

o   It is crucial for departments to maintain a relationship locally with school districts who are going to help advertise them. This is something the physics department is willing to dedicate time to. 

·       Designing annual enrollment-boosting events such as physics contests and demonstrations for high school students

o   Events like these would be designed for juniors or seniors in high school. The event would be a great opportunity for them to meet the physics faculty and students and see the laboratories. 

The physics department isn’t just home to an academic program, it is where scientists are made, where discovery, innovation, and critical thinking thrive. Physics is the foundation and explanation of our universe. Physics isn’t an easy major to sell at face value, so it is important to acknowledge that there is work to be done. Its value in technology, engineering, and research cannot be overlooked, however. Due to the nature of the way enrollment and graduation rates fluctuate, it is reasonable to predict that there will be noticeable enrollment growth within 2-5 years—provided the opportunity to lay new groundwork, expand involvement, build relationships, and implement new recruitment strategies. 

With time to establish new initiatives and cultivate relationships, the Physics Department can become a more attractive option for students. The results will not happen instantaneously, it will take time and energy which the faculty and students supporting the Physics program are more than willing to provide. But in the long term, this plan will not only revive the Physics department, but it will strengthen the University’s academic standing, as well as increase tuition revenue, relieving some of the University’s financial strain.

The proposal above is intended to be a launch pad for collaboration with Millersville University administration. The goal of this petition and of MPPAC is to allow the physics program two-five years to increase its sustainability after the discovery of potential suspension in the fall of 2024. 

As students at Millersville University, we all came here because we saw this school as an opportunity to pursue our dreams and build a community where we can be involved with our institution years after graduation. We hope you accept our offer of collaboration and allow us to build connections with the physics students of Millersville University 10 years from now. 

- MPPAC at Millersville University of Pennsylvania