tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300809132641276375.post5243231956979226553..comments2023-09-14T15:00:42.264-04:00Comments on Save WJU: What is unique in WJU?Blogger 848http://www.blogger.com/profile/17921901520272906992noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300809132641276375.post-13955730137263883972009-10-13T16:10:03.939-04:002009-10-13T16:10:03.939-04:00WJU's situation is a difficult one indeed. The...WJU's situation is a difficult one indeed. The reality is that there has been a steady loss of students for years now—an older profile left over from the 2007 presidential search cited WJU's 4 year graduation rate as 50%: not abyssimal, but not optimal either. <br /><br />This is most likely due to two major factors: the loss of many stronger students who may feel stifled by the campus culture, or the loss of students who weren't qualified to attend WJU in the first place. A significant contributing factor to the latter is the recent creation of, and emphasis on, majors that don't attract students with strong roots in academic inquiry. <br /><br />These problems with continue as long as WJU tries to position itself as an institution whose promary aim is job training rather than discernment and intellectual growth. While it could easily be argued that this is a necessary reaction to current trend in higher education, the increased focus on professional programs only serves to move the University further away from its Jesuit roots. Father Julio alluded to this in an interview at the time of his firing. <br /><br />While the career oriented programs help to fill the coffers now, they offer little in the way of a distinctive curriculum. WJU could well become the most expensive technical school in the valley if the number-crunchers continue to have their way. <br /><br />As for the ethical considerations, there were serious concerns about financial and educational matters in the 1990s under Acker's regime. Father Julio's departure might be best seen as the latest manifestation of a long tradition of questionable leadership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com