Spring Break
Music therapy on cutting block again
University Senate votes Tuesday on program
Jacob McCormick
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
On Feb. 12, the University Senate formally introduced the motion to eliminate funding from the UW-Eau Claire music therapy program after the Academic Policies Committee voted 5-2 to recommend the program's termination.
The Senate will vote on the proposal Tuesday, as many senators felt they did not have enough information to vote on the recommendation during the Feb. 12 meeting. If the resolution passes it will reach the chancellor, who will ultimately decide on the program's fate.
"If the program is working with the current resources, I don't see the need to vote on it now," said Jeff Erger, associate professor of sociology.
Despite the low enrollment, Lee Anna Rasar, director of music therapy and the program's sole faculty member, said students interact with and help everyone from people in juvenile detention centers to those confined to their homes.
"We've had many students working abroad and our Web site has many international hits," Rasar said. "We've also had three Blugold Fellows."
Rasar said the reasons she's been given for the program's position on the chopping block have varied over time.
"For rationale, first it was that we had to move back to the music unit in the College of Arts and Sciences," she said. "Second, we were told we don't meet the strategic plan and third, we don't find jobs. I actually put together a list of who had jobs where and the placement increased from five to 11 graduates (of music therapy) in five years."
In contrast, interim Associate Vice Chancellor Andy Phillips said that the process is a zero sum game and, unfortunately, choices have to be made.
"It's a unique program in Wisconsin," Phillips said. "The issue isn't about the high quality of the program … we don't have the resources and the main issue is viability."
He said that the Department of Music and Theater Arts made a choice to not reallocate resources to the music therapy program, adding that the department is facing financial problems without the program.
The Senate will vote on the proposal Tuesday, as many senators felt they did not have enough information to vote on the recommendation during the Feb. 12 meeting. If the resolution passes it will reach the chancellor, who will ultimately decide on the program's fate.
"If the program is working with the current resources, I don't see the need to vote on it now," said Jeff Erger, associate professor of sociology.
Despite the low enrollment, Lee Anna Rasar, director of music therapy and the program's sole faculty member, said students interact with and help everyone from people in juvenile detention centers to those confined to their homes.
"We've had many students working abroad and our Web site has many international hits," Rasar said. "We've also had three Blugold Fellows."
Rasar said the reasons she's been given for the program's position on the chopping block have varied over time.
"For rationale, first it was that we had to move back to the music unit in the College of Arts and Sciences," she said. "Second, we were told we don't meet the strategic plan and third, we don't find jobs. I actually put together a list of who had jobs where and the placement increased from five to 11 graduates (of music therapy) in five years."
In contrast, interim Associate Vice Chancellor Andy Phillips said that the process is a zero sum game and, unfortunately, choices have to be made.
"It's a unique program in Wisconsin," Phillips said. "The issue isn't about the high quality of the program … we don't have the resources and the main issue is viability."
He said that the Department of Music and Theater Arts made a choice to not reallocate resources to the music therapy program, adding that the department is facing financial problems without the program.
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