Closure of MSU’s Deaf Education Program

November 11, 2009 at 11:50 am (Audism, Education, Language, Michigan)

Michigan State University’s Deaf Education program, the only one in the entire state that incorporates ASL and the bi-bi philosophy in their training of Deaf education teachers, is going to close fully in 2012.  The Deaf Education program’s dean notified the co-chairs, (Dr. Harold Johnson and Dr. Claudia Pagliaro) that there will be a freeze on future admissions and that current students will be required to finish their coursework and internship before the end of spring semester 2012. The word is also that all ASL classes will be terminated as of the spring of 2011.

From the letter I was forwarded announcing this, I cannot find any real reason why this is happening. No Nothing about financial difficulties, a reduction in admissions or anything like that, is mentioned as a cause.

Closing MSU’s Deaf Education program will have a deeply adverse impact on the deaf education programs across the state – we already have a shortage of teachers who can sign proficiently in ASL, and Michigan has tremendous difficulty recruiting Deaf community professionals in all areas.

This is indeed sad news, and it leaves me and I’m sure, many others in the Deaf community feeling bewildered and frustrated. We deserve at the very least, an explanation of why this is happening.

19 Comments

  1. Dave Scholl said,

    November 11, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    Truly upsetting news! We are seeing some positive actions within the state of Michigan relating to certification and qualifications of interpreters (another topic entirely!), and a recent increase in the number of ASL and Interpreter Training Programs statewide. These positive actions do not seem to mesh with the closing of the Deaf Education program at one of the most prestigious universities in Michigan. Yes, mainstreamed deaf children will finally have certified interpreters in the school system, but the number of specialized teachers for the Deaf (both at Michigan School for the Deaf and in the public schools sector) will be drastically reduced. A decent step forward (certifed interpreters in schools) but a great step backward (less specialized Deaf educators). Please let us know if you do get more information as to why the program is closing!

  2. kmayes said,

    November 11, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Huh oh. Keep us infomred, okay.

    I hope that this won’t become a trend…

  3. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 11, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    I think the Deaf community needs to contact the chairs and MSU to find out *why* this is happening, and if there’s anything we can do to reverse this. Because this will cause a deepening of the Deaf Education crisis here in Michigan.

  4. jean boutcher said,

    November 11, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I hope that what is happening to MSU will not become a trend towards more closures in American universities. DP, I must agree with you about the need of maybe a meeting between the Deaf Community and the MSU. You would be a very fine leader in doing that since you are a very articulate person. Keep us posted.

  5. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 11, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Thanks Jean, and I agree. I hope this is not a trend.

    I am doing some investigating, and the information I’m getting about Eastern Michigan University, the other Deaf Education program, is quite disturbing. Extremely oral, and one person there helped write an official paper for the organization, AG Bell.

    I sincerely hope that the MI Deaf Community will take action on this – it’s very important for our future. I’m limited in what I can do, because I’m not in the right position right now. I can only blog and encourage others to take action, and if there is a meeting, to be there in a support role.

    We’ll see what happens, and I will keep you all posted.

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    November 11, 2009 at 3:35 pm

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    November 11, 2009 at 3:55 pm

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  8. Robert Alfred Hawkins said,

    November 11, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    Again, that’s awful. Programs such as the one at Eastern Michigan University with a different emphasis exist within the very framework of choices. We can be biased but we can’t be naive. This is what makes us look bad. This is America. We can’t deny them choices. But, both are public universities. Therefore, “equality” must exist meaning both MSU and EMU’s must either remain in operation with equal consideration in terms such as resources afforded including funding. Do you know the enrollment at EMU’s program? If numbers are lopsided then that’s probably a factor misused in rationale behind the axing.

  9. Robert Alfred Hawkins said,

    November 11, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    Darn the delete key. By “either” I meant both staying in operation or both ceasing to exist.

  10. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 11, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    Robert, yes. EMU has the right to offer different focuses in Deaf Education, but MI needs a program to balance EMU.

    I don’t know the enrollment numbers at EMU’s program, or MSU’s… that’s something I’m investigating right now.

  11. Bill said,

    November 11, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    Don’t let this go on quietly, DP!

  12. Mishkazena said,

    November 12, 2009 at 12:23 am

    Something is very fishy. ASL is the third most popular ‘foreign’ languages in universities and this dept is going to terminate the ASL classes? Why close a program that offers two options while the other state university offers just one option?

    I hope you’ll find out what’s really going on. The whole thing doesn’t make sense.

  13. Gamas said,

    November 12, 2009 at 9:49 am

    I agree, something does not sound right here. There is still a great need for ASL teacher of the deaf and ASL interpreters. Does any of MI media such as TV station that will take request into investigating something like this? Maybe you can get answers that way?

  14. David Scholl said,

    November 12, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Perhaps the Michigan Deaf Association could be convinced to pursue this issue. I am sure Scot Pott, Freida Morrison and others from that organization could be strong representatives for the Michigan Deaf Community. By requesting an explanation from MSU on behalf of MDA, they could determine the cause of the closure and perhaps work within the system to come to a better outcome. Also, the State’s Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing could possibly be convinced to research the closure. I will contact the Director there and ask for assistance. DP, as you are an elected representative within the MDA, would you ask their Board to act?

  15. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 12, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    I just received news that a Facebook group has been set up to protest this decision. Please join this group! http://bit.ly/3DqEAO

    I also strongly encourage people to contact MSU’s Dean of Education, Carole Ames at Dean’s Office, 501 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: 517.355.1734

    And Jacquelyn Thompson, the MI Director of Special Education and Early Intervention at (phone 517-373-9433) (email:ThompsonJ3@michigan.gov) (fax: 517-373-7504)

  16. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 12, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Also, please sign this petition.

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/DeafEd_MSU/

  17. Abby Matheny said,

    November 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    wow

  18. Heather said,

    November 19, 2009 at 2:38 am

    I’m currently a student at MSU in the Deaf Ed program (luckily before the decision was made and I’ll be interning next year) We are currently planning a rally on campus on Dec. 4 at 10:00 am in front of the Hannah Administration Building. A few people from my class have really stepped up and taken the lead on getting support behind us and organizing the events. We were extremely shocked when we received an email about this last week and the students in the program are deeply concerned and extremely frustrated about the news. We have been told that the actual decision is still pending HOWEVER we don’t see why this should even have come to that. If you’re in or around Lansing on Friday the 4th – PLEASE stop by and join us as we try to make our voices heard against the adminstration!

  19. A Deaf Pundit said,

    November 19, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Heather,

    Thanks for letting us know! :) I am working on a blog post to further publicize this cause. Hopefully it will be up soon within a few days.

Comments are closed.