Saint Xavier University will be experiencing a change of professors for the 2013-2014 school year.
When students in Dr. David Neff’s Spirituality classes received news that, after this semester, the class will no longer be offered under his instruction and that the beloved professor may no longer be employed by SXU for the following year, they did not hesitate to show their discontent.
“Dr. Neff is an awesome professor,” stated Alexis Medina, sophomore nursing major.
“It’s sad that he won’t be teaching this class anymore.”
Many other students in Medina’s class found themselves in agreement with Medina. Almost all of them stated that other students who had previously taken his classes had recommended Neff, an adjunct professor in the Religious Studies department.
According to Peter N. Kirstein, professor of history, 76 percent of all university instructors are no longer on the tenure stream.
“The trend has been to hire ‘cheaper’ faculty ‘commodities’ who have no academic freedom, stated Kirstein: not just adjuncts, but full-time faculty too who are not on tenure track.”
Students at Saint Xavier have expressed much dissatisfaction regarding the university’s decision to let go of some of the most well loved professors, stating their confusion towards the matter.
“It doesn’t make sense to let go of the professors that everyone wants to take,” expressed a student who wishes to remain unnamed.
“Why wouldn’t the school keep the better professors?”
One popular professor being let go is Dr. Shahyad (Shawn) Ghoncheh, a full-time Psychology Lecturer at SXU for the past four years. Ghoncheh, like Neff, is not a tenured professor.
According to Dr. Ghoncheh, the university will not be rehiring him in Fall 2013 although the psychology department will be experiencing a shortage of professors.
“During the next academic year, the department will have a shortage of full-time faculty members due to (a professor) on sabbatical leave and others transitioning to retirement, (becoming) part-time status. This shortage would necessitate the presence of another full-time instructor, which in the past has been satisfied with the hiring of an annual full-time instructor.
However, during this past Christmas break, I was notified that due to the fact that there are too many faculty members on sabbatical leave, the College of Arts and Sciences could not afford to hire another full-time instructor.”
Dr. Ghoncheh expressed that he, like his students, was under the impression that professors who consistently receive positive feedback would be viewed as more valuable by the university.
“Looking back at when I was a student, I recall that if my classmates and I found an instructor whose teaching style we would understand, we would continue taking several courses with them.
Also, we would prefer to have an advisor who knew what they were doing and would be our advisor throughout the [all)]academic years rather than having to have different advisors every year,” Ghoncheh stated.
“I think at a time when schools are searching for ways to retain students, keeping faculty members who have a great impact on their students’ lives is a very important idea.”
News that he will not be rehired for the fall has forced Dr. Ghoncheh to search for another job.
“As soon as I was told that I would not be rehired, I began my search for a full-time position elsewhere, and due to the fact that openings in the Chicago area are limited, I was forced to search out of state.
If and when I am hired by an out-of-state institution, it would mean for me to pack my entire life and move.
Being employed by SXU has been very important to me because, it not only (allows me) to financially support myself, but it has also given me the opportunity to positively affect the lives of my students.
Based on my student evaluations, I am proud to say that I have had a positive impact in their lives,” Ghoncheh stated.
In response to upset students, Kirstein encouraged those who are dissatified to speak out.
“Petition. Use SXU Media. Go to your department chair or dean. Protest. March. They will listen to you, because it is your money.”
Nicole Rosales
Senior News Editor