Class sizes increase, fewer sections available

Decrease in classes offered at UNC

UNC budget cuts have forced undergraduate and graduate programs to increase class sizes this semester and decrease the number of available sections.

Departments have removed some sections and shifted seats to other classes to cut costs. The Registrar’s Office said about 200 classes have been cut this year. But the total number of seats has remained similar to last semester.

“We’re offering the same classes, but some of the sections might be bigger,” said Dee Reid, director of communications for the College of Arts and Sciences. “We’ve increased the maximum class size for first-year seminars and writing and language classes.”

The 2009-10 state budget cuts about $37.5 million from UNC this year. Administrators said they tried to make reductions that didn’t hurt the school’s instructional mission.

But students have noticed the slight changes. Senior Carly Brantmeyer said she saw many students trying to enroll in her already-crowded sociology class.

“There were 15 or 20 people in the back of the room standing up,” Brantmeyer said.

The cancellations have frustrated some students, who were forced to redo parts of their schedules.

“I was signed up for five classes this summer, and three of them were cancelled within a week,” said senior Kyle Doty.

Bobbi Owen, senior associate dean for undergraduate education, said the college sought to minimize harming student instruction.

“We were really careful to preserve what we could for our undergraduate students,” Owen said, adding that the maximum sizes of class rosters increased by only a few seats.

 She said the number of available spots in many first-year seminars increased from about 20 to 24.

Despite the changing number of classes, Owen said the college has not cut any majors, only consolidated programs.

“Nothing is being eliminated this year,” she said. “We’re doing a little shifting around. Comparative literature was moved with English.”

The budget cuts have also affected many graduate programs.

“We have had to reduce personnel and make some changes in our non-personnel expenditures as well,” said Brad Volk, associate dean for administration in the School of Government. “We have been fortunate in that most of the personnel eliminations have been temporary employees.”

Volk added that the school stopped making furniture purchases and eliminated several telephones, meals at meetings and a summer law clerk program. The school also reduced traveling.

Despite the program’s ability to continue to operate amid budget cuts, Volk said he is not optimistic about possible future reductions.

“We are anticipating that it will be even worse,” Volk said. “My dean refers to it as the perfect storm.”

Owen also said she expects future cuts.

“I think that the state of North Carolina has to be cautious about this, and that means we’re going to prepare,” she said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.