March 11, 2025: Reductions to RWPD-170 Sections (Bolton)

Requesting journalist: Chloe Williams

Respondent: Sarah Bolton, President

1) Why were the RWPD-170 section reductions submitted to the community as a proposal, when the Provost and Committee of Division Chairs had already made the decision to cut the sections? 

We wanted to include all of the savings areas in the document that went out to the community, both for transparency and so that it was clear the ways that every part of the college was contributing to savings in some way. We probably should have put a note on that item to make clear that there had already been a decision by the Provost and Committee of Division Chairs, and also a faculty vote on the catalog content related to it.  I spoke to that in the March 4th open meeting after it was raised and addressed at the February 24th open meeting. 

2) What impacts will these cuts have on the writing faculty in the RWPD department? 

It may lead to a reduction in sections taught by some faculty who have taught regularly in RWPD 170. 

3) In the email you sent out a few weeks ago, you wrote: “we expect our resources will decrease (from $97.3 million this year to 96.3 million next year).” Why is this? Is it because of the generational cliff? You also mentioned in the email that the current cost of living has made raises necessary. Will any non-tenure track faculty or adjunct professors be receiving these raises?

Yes, the generational cliff is definitely the most important part of this. As I shared in my email to campus on February 14th, “As you may know, many colleges and universities across the United States are facing financial pressures due to decreasing numbers of college-age students.  As a result, many colleges have lost enrollment, and nearly all are experiencing a decrease in revenues coming from students and families. Whitman’s strong program has allowed us to continue to recruit excellent students, but, as families are increasingly “shopping around” for the best value college education, we have increased our financial aid offerings. While this provides great access for students, it also reduces the funds we have available to support all of the work of the College.”  Whitman college projects that we will receive $39.3 million in net tuition (tuition paid by students and families after scholarships are granted) next year, compared to $42 million this year.  We will also have a small decrease in revenue from the endowment, from $37.1 million to $36.8 million. 

To your question about raises: raises are not uniformly distributed for all employees, but many continuing non-tenure track faculty are eligible to receive raises.