Via Inside Higher Ed: A College Ends Poli Sci

Wisconsin Lutheran College last week not only eliminated the jobs of 18 people — it also ended the teaching of political science.

The academic job market bites during a good economy, so my heart goes out to those who have lost jobs especially in the current climate.

3 Responses to “Economy Kills PoliSci at one Small College”

1. bfwebster Says:
   March 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 am

   I must confess that the first thing that popped into mind was this exchange from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:

   MAJIKTHISE:
   We’ll go on strike!

   VROOMFONDEL:
   That’s right. You’ll have a national philosopher’s strike on your hands.

   DEEP THOUGHT:
   Who will that inconvenience?

   MAJIKTHISE:
   Never you mind who it’ll inconvenience you box of black legging binary bits! It’ll hurt, buster! It’ll hurt!

   I have nothing but deep sympathy for those being laid off, though; since I work in the IT industry, I’ve been downsized and/or had the company I was working for shut down several times. ..bruce..

2. Ratoe Says:
   March 3rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm

   The academic job market bites during a good economy, so my heart goes out to those who have lost jobs especially in the current climate.

   I don’t know anything about the academic job market, but I’ve read numerous articles about how there have been significant increases in applications at numerous universities–and this is due to the prolonged recession.

   I think it was yesterday where the NYTimes had an article on how the SUNY system, in particular, is being inundated because of its status as a good public university system.

   The public Unis are seeing the largest increases since private tuition is such a burden and credit markets are making banks stingy about their loans.

   Obviously, an increase in applicants doesn’t necessarily mean that universities are increasing their hiring, but I would assume that the academic job market does not fluctuate( either way) as much as the corporate sector.

   Frankly, I think the demise of a college like Wisconsin Lutheran is due more to a general trend towards consolidation in higher ed than the economy. These small, sectarian colleges have been suffering for years.

3. Death of a discipline (Signifying Nothing: Will start a RIOT! in you) Says:
   March 5th, 2009 at 1:07 am

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