BRATTLEBORO, Vt.—Some students and faculty at one of the schools of World Learning worry a new strategic plan being implemented could endanger the organization's reputation as one of the premier school's for international studies.
Nearly 100 people met with school administrators Wednesday to ask why the school is cutting faculty and limiting students in the SIT Graduate Institute's Master of Art in Teaching program and moving positions overseas in the program in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management.
World Learning Vice President Adam Weinberg said the school's president began the strategic planning process three years ago.
"It was by far the most inclusive strategic planning process (at the school)," he said.
During the process officials decided World Learning needed to refocus on its four core programs: the Experiment in International Learning, SIT (formerly the School for International Training) Study Abroad, the graduate institute and its international development work, he said.
The faculty in the master of arts in teaching program is being cut from 9.5 full-time positions to four and student admissions capped at 30 a year.
But some students feel administrators aren't listening.
Suggestions made by the faculty in the teaching program were ignored, said Lucinda Megill, a student in the master's program.
"They've done a lot of listening but not acting on the listening. It was the wrong decision and we don't like how it was done," Megill said.
Carol Bellamy, president and CEO of World Learning, said the school's commitment to the language arts and social justice wouldn't be diminished.
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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer
