A recent rumor – both online and off -that said the Wilkes music minor would be terminated is false, according to the university.
In reality, the university is looking to add faculty to the program.
“I have spent the past three weeks talking to students, advisers, alumni and administrators assuring them there is not, nor has been, any change to the music minor,” said Dr. Jon Liebetrau, chair of the division of performing arts. “Recently I learned, to my surprise, that some Wilkes music students have been fretting since the beginning of semester about the ‘suspension’ or the ‘termination’ of the music minor.”
Liebetrau believes that the rumor originated a er a member of the department left for another job opportunity in late-July. That departure, coupled with an unrelated retirement last May, may have caused some people to worry.
“Most likely, someone made a false assumption that music classes wouldn’t be covered this school year,” he continued.
Students heard the rumor around campus, and there was a petition created on the website change.org.
“I heard it from a junior in the psychology program, the one who had the petition, and she said they didn’t have the professors to teach some of the classes, and they were going to put someone on hold and the seniors were going to have to wait to graduate or not be able to graduate with their credentials,” said Isabella Ruiz, sophomore biochemistry major.
The petition mentioned the idea that the music minor had been suspended due to lack of staff, and claimed that none of the classes needed for the minor can be taught as a result.
Liebetrau explained that a senior asked about the possibility of a course substitution for a music class that would not be offered this semester, and that a suitable substitute was found shortly after and approved, so that this student could graduate with their music minor in May.
Even with a staff shortage, students can be assured that they can still earn their music minor, and that certain substitutions and solutions can be found to facilitate this.
“I can con rm that the rumor about the suspension of the music minor is not true,” said Dr. Paul Riggs, dean of Arts and Sciences. “We have advertised for two new tenure-track faculty members in music, and fully expect to make both hires before the end of the academic year.”
Both Liebetrau and Riggs advise that anyone with questions or concerns about any Wilkes program should seek out the director or chairperson of that program to clear any confusion and settle any uneasiness.