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Millersville University president discusses higher education

Written by Scott LaMar, Radio Smart Talk Host/Executive Producer | Sep 25, 2012 2:55 PM

Comments : 6

Radio Smart Talk for Wednesday, September 26:

Central Pennsylvania is home to several well respected universities and colleges that are considered anchor institutions in their communities. Millersville University is certainly one of them in Lancaster County and throughout the State System of Higher Education.

Much of the school's success in recent years has been attributed to the leadership of President Dr. Francine McNairy, who is leaving Millersville after nine years. During that time, the university has seen many changes, including raising student enrollment to around 8,700 and the minority student population to 11% -- it's highest level ever. New programs have been added and new buildings constructed and acquired.

All this comes at a time when budgets are tight. Millersville hasn't been without episodes of fiscal pain either.

Dr. McNairy will appear on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk as part of our semi-regular discussions with Central Pennsylvania academic leaders to discuss Millersville, its future, higher education and the institution's role in the community.

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Published in News, Smart Talk

Tagged under education, Francine McNairy, higher education, Millersville University

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Comments: 6

Radio Smart Talk 2012-09-26 08:17

Email from Steve,York (a Millersville grad)

How can colleges and universities become more accountable? The entire structure seems akin to a ' laissez faire' mode of keeping the rich rich.

What about an overseeing body that covers all higher educational facilities?
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mjmaret 2012-09-26 08:21

I'd like to know why she turned down $300,000 to reinstate the men's cross country and track programs that she cut. Her justification for the cuts turned out to be false and she refuses to acknowledge those who want to bring the program back.
https://www.facebook.com/saveMUsports
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Radio Smart Talk 2012-09-26 08:30

Email from Bob, Camp Hill
Some professors are very good and effective, some are not. How do you identify the good ones and encourage them to stay and help to improve those who are not so good? How would you replace the not so good ones with the better profs?
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Bob Vasile 2012-09-26 08:37

This president eliminated student opportunities by cutting a very storied 50+ year men’s cross country and track & field program. The #1 reason given was the governor’s budget cuts. Now that those cuts have been restored, why is she not reinstating the programs and the opportunities to her students? Also, why would ANY president reject a $300,000 donation from an alumnus to keep the programs going while a solution was being finalized by an alumni group?
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treyj 2012-09-26 08:50

Last Feb. Dr. McNairy announced the dropping of Men's Track and Field and Crouss Country teams. The Cross Country team holds the only NCAA Championship trophy in the school history and both the teams have historically produced the highest level of graduation rates of any teams on campus, as well as numerous NCAA All Americans and Academic All Americans. Futhermore, when this was announced for "budgetary reasons" a group of people came up with $1.3 million to sustain the program through the current budget crisis. Why did you drop the programs, when the budget and Title IX issues proved to be false and why did you refuse the privately donated money to sustain the program?
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Tonya Jarrett 2012-09-26 10:42

Regarding the cutting of the men's track and field, cross-country teams, Ms. McNairy has a fairy tale, and she's sticking to it. Unfortunately for her, the fairy tale still stinks like a Grimm's troll hiding under a bridge. You, Ms. McNairy, in a very minor way, acknowledge hurt on the part of the students affected later in your little speech, but your weary, so put-upon tone at the beginning, "Let me try to one more time explain" is the whetstone against which we grind our axes with regard to your actions. You and every MU administrator and Pennsylvania government official I took the time to send a letter via email regarding the situation last spring, disgust me.

I wrote an editorial which no one would publish, nor even respond to, save Chuck Burton at College Sports Journal, who kindly reshaped it to make the piece even more important and compelling. Some likes but no comments, and no action. The alumni at MU who cared, did everything it could. As a result of your selfish, petty actions, some alumni have now withdrawn money that would have helped MU in the long run. You didn't just "hurt" those young men, including a friend of mine, you devastated them and left a bad taste in their mouths regarding their four years of undergraduate work. That is your legacy, not the BS fairy tale you continue to promote to the public. Bravo.
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