If you’ve got connections to Montana in general or The University of Montana in particular, you may already have heard about the university sending non-renewal notices to a 30-odd professors in the past weeks. Though the professors are not necessarily being fired for sure, they’ve basically been reminded that their contracts are ending and that the university COULD decide not to rehire them for next semester depending on a variety of factors, including student enrollment in classes and programs. This is part of a series of actions the university is taking to deal with a budget problem in part caused by decreasing enrollment numbers.
I feel like the humanities often bear the brunt of such cuts, and looking at a list of the professors who were sent non-renewal notices paints a depressing picture about the university administration’s views about these departments - of 33 letters, for example, 10 went to professors in the English and languages departments, departments that are already small and understaffed but which still strive to provide excellent programs for UM students. If you aren’t connected to Montana in any way, you might not know that UM has a strong history of exchange with Kumamoto Daigaku. Both schools have rich humanities programs that attract students from all over the world, and I wouldn’t be who or where I am today without their incredible professors and programs.
I’m not sure how much can be done to sway the UM administration’s eventual decision about renewing contracts, but this is not how hard-working, dedicated professors deserve to be treated. I’ve shared an article about the letters as well as a link to a petition that, if it gathers enough signatures, might at least help the university realize how unhappy many of its alumni and supporters are about its behavior. Please think about adding your name!
-Grace
Here’s a link to an article with some more information:
