Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Short
About 45 percent of the majors Liberty previously offered were affected. Six majors and 19 minors no longer are offered in any form.
Students complained they received no notice of the changes until they arrived last week on campus. By then, it was too late to consider transferring to other schools.
Liberty, a private university founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, is offering seniors with only a few credits required to graduate special independent studies classes so they can complete affected majors. However, most students in those majors must settle for different majors or transfer.
Former faculty members, who were laid off in June, said the abrupt overhaul has hurt students and damaged the school's reputation.
School spokesman Mark DeMoss said French, Spanish, recreation, drama and chemistry majors were eliminated, but minors would be offered in the chemistry and language courses. Related majors also are available for recreation students, he said.
However, comparing last year's catalog listings with information given students this fall by the registrar's office shows six majors will be dropped with no minors or concentrations offered: drama, economics, music performance, recreation, sacred music and telecommunications.
Liberty began restructuring after the school's board of trustees demanded the school cut costs, DeMoss said. Deans were asked to help decide which programs to cut.
by CNB