In regards to the report that PennWest University will eliminate academic majors (“More than 100 academic offerings on PennWest’s chopping block,” Dec. 24, TribLive), specifically Spanish, art education and others — some academic, some truly belonging at a community college or technical college: This is not what “universities” do; rather, what state teachers’ “normal” schools do.
Universities offer academics to train the mind, to inquire, to think logically; universities are the keepers of the progress of civilization, whether in science, art, music or liberal arts.
State colleges offered young people programs in career education; most attended for teacher education, perhaps nursing or science technology education. A few, due to excellent state college professors, looked beyond to professional education, law, medicine, doctorates.
State college students were smart and hard- working to get through the majors and a proud product of the state college system, providing immeasurable service to their communities.
So, what is wrong with PennWest University?
First, the leadership; administrators are incompetent, “bean counting” hacks. As argued above, the very name “university” is wrong. They lead state colleges. Pitt is a university, Penn State is a university.
With the shortage of qualified teachers, with strong academic credentials in a college major, why aren’t PennWest leaders meeting this with rigorous course requirements and paid internships with real responsibilities in classrooms? As a retired teacher, this is something I understand. But similar initiatives apply to other careers.
Our former state colleges were a treasure, despite being part of our dysfunctional state government, and gave back to citizens much more than the cost invested.
Dale Anthony Kennedy
Plum