Design RIF Notice
The design drafting technology (DT) program was recently notified that they have received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice for the first time.
Like many other programs at Green River College (GRC), design drafting technology received an email regarding a RIF notice. A RIF notice essentially means that a program will be reduced in some shape or form, either by having some cuts made or eliminating the program altogether.
If the Drafting Technology program were to be completely eliminated then that would mean that the college would no longer have a DT program, Terry Waagan, design drafting technology faculty, said.
About two weeks ago, the administration at GRC sent out an email to both faculty and students. The email contained a list of programs that are being affected by RIF notices.
The email design drafting technology received is the “only formal notice,” Waagan said. “No information has been given to us formally.”
No other form of communication regarding the RIF notice, besides the email, has been sent out to the program by the college.
“We’ve been focusing on what our options are,” Waagan said. The design drafting technology program has two options in response to the notice. They can either find ways to cut liabilities or increase revenue. The bigger issue is finding ways to increase revenue and increase student enrollment as well, Waagan said.
The email did not include the reasoning behind why the programs were targeted by RIF notices.
“All I know is what’s on the email,” Waagan said. “It did not specify.”
Waagan’s guess behind why design drafting technology got a RIF notice is because the program’s enrollment has decreased.
Regardless of the program, if you don’t have students then there is no program, Waagan said.
The issue is getting enrollment to increase though that is something that design drafting technology is trying to work on.
Currently, design drafting technology offers five different degrees and they are having, “trouble keeping classes full,” Waagan said.
They would like to focus more on having fewer degrees that could be completed in two years. Limiting choices could mean more students, Waagan said. They are also thinking about reducing the amount of credits needed in order to finish a degree. They would like to reduce it down to 90 credits.
“It’s more in line with other colleges that have also reduced,” Waagan said.
Reducing to 90 credits could also be more attractive toward students being retrained through the workforce, which could complete their degree in two years or about six to seven quarters, Waagan said.
“I’m not sure that either side knows what it means,” Waagan said. “The matter of the process, the way it was done. It is hard to respond,” Waagan said.
Design drafting technologyis trying to determine where they stand and what they can do about it.
We recently had a discussion with the division chair and president to give us an idea, but we still have no idea as to why design drafting technology is on the list, Waagan said. According to Waagan, they will have to assume that the list is complete and try to figure it out from there.
As for the students, all they can really do is, “keep questioning,” Waagan said.
Not too long ago, both the president and vice-president of GRC were answering questions during a forum. Students showed up to ask questions and voice their concerns. A number of design drafting technology students showed up to question about the position of their program.
Other than that, students do not really have many options.
We are not little children, we don’t need to be coddled, Waagan said.
Some clear answers could, however, come in handy and help design drafting technology and other programs better manage their resources and future position.
