From the Editors: Due to an editing error, the May 19 issue of [X]press may have left the mistaken impression that there are no longer any NEXA classes. The correct information is below.

The reality of budget cuts hit SF State again this semester, when a number of the university's programs were considered for discontinuance. Some were salvaged while others were cut. Below is a list complied by [X]press, updating the status of several programs.

NEXA - Cut
The NEXA program and minor have been discontinued.

Students in the Segment III clusters "Ideas and the Making of Culture,” "Science and Human Values" and other clusters with NEXA courses will be able to take these courses to complete their GE requirements.

Classes to be offered in 2005-2006 are:
Fall 2005
NEXA 360 Visual World of Science & Art
NEXA 368 Dangerous Liaisons: The Don Juan Myth in Music and Literature
NEXA 380 Cosmologies and World Views
NEXA 389 The Darwinian Revolution
NEXA 392 Nature, Culture & Technology

Spring 2006
NEXA 330 Marxism, Feminism & Social Change
NEXA 369 The Demonic Pact: The Faust Myth in Music and Literature
NEXA 390 The Einsteinian Revolution
NEXA 392 Nature, Culture & Technology
NEXA 456 Reality & the New Physics

“While we do not agree with the university's decision to eliminate the NEXA program, it is the university's decision to make,” said NEXA Director Geoffrey Green. “At a time when interdisciplinary approaches to education are emerging throughout the country, it is indeed disheartening that fiscal and other exigencies have compelled SFSU (who pioneered such approaches in the past) to conclude that interdisciplinary education is not a high priority.”

Industrial Technology – Saved
A proposal to discontinue the bachelor’s degree in industrial technology was withdrawn so the design and industry department can downsize and revise the program.

Officials in the design and industry department said they hope to consolidate courses from the degree in industrial technology with courses from the industrial arts degree program.

Affected courses:
DAI 210 Industrial Science
DAI 430 Industrial Controls
DAI 460 Automated Manufacturing Systems
DAI 510 Industrial Quality Control

These four courses will either be eliminated, consolidated, or revised for the newly configured curriculum that will be shared with the degree in Industrial Arts, chair Ricardo Gomes, said in a letter.

Gerontology - Suspended until further notice
“There is a reorganization task force meeting and they have been charged with making recommendations regarding the future of the Gerontology Program to the provost,” said Anabel Pelham, director of the gerontology program.

California Studies - Saved
The program was saved after an agreement was made between Program Director Lee Davis and BSS Dean Joel Kassiola. Davis did not disclose the details of the agreement but did say that the California studies program budget was cut to zero. Prior to this, Cal Studies received $3,000 to $4,000 a year for supplies and student assistant help. The program office will also be reduced in size.
A curriculum revision proposal, which will reduce the number of units required for the minor from 21 to 16 units, will go before the Academic Senate in Fall 2005. If the proposal gets approved, students already taking the Segment III cluster “California Cultures and Environments” will only need one more class for the minor.

“I hope that it will be completely approved by the end of the fall,” Davis said.

Social Sciences - Cut
The bachelor of arts degree in social science was cut due to lack of faculty resources. Classes will be offered through spring 2006. Social science courses are not being cut, but will be offered with less frequency with fewer sections after spring 2006, said Dawn Terrell, acting director of social sciences and the associate dean of BSS.

The master’s degree will also be suspended, with a formal request most likely submitted in the fall, according to Terrell.

“We will make sure the current graduate students have ample time to graduate,” said Terrell.

Dance - Saved
The bachelor’s degree in dance was saved after a revision of the major required units from 57 to 45 units. According to the proposal, the revised major will "facilitate a new interdisciplinary program between dance, music, and theatre arts.”

"We took it (the possibility of discontinuance) as a opportunity to revamp the whole thing," said Susan Whipp, professor of dance.

Russian - Cut
President Corrigan cut the master’s and bachelor’s degree programs even though there was a lot of support from the community and a recommendation for continuance from the Academic Senate. Students already in the programs will be able to finish their degree. SF State will maintain the minor.

Classes to be offered in Fall 2005 are:

Russian 101 First Semester Russian
Russian 102 Second Semester Russian
Russian 103 Third Semester Russian
Russian 301 Reading and Grammar
Russian 511 Russian Literature II
Russian 611 Chekhov's Plays
Russian 811 Chekhov's Plays

The Russian program at SF State is essential not just because San Francisco has a six to seven percent Russian-speaking population but also because it is a bridge between high school and community colleges to further pursue Russian studies, according to Catherine Siskron, professor of Russian studies.

"Cutting Russian studies in San Francisco just doesn't seem appropriate," said Siskron.

Clinical Laboratory Science - Suspended until new director is found.

No director has been found yet, but according to the program’s Web site, the program will be accepting applications for the fall 2005 semester.