Written by Hannah Guanti
Salem, VA, In Summer 2022, Frank Shushok Jr. began his tenure as the 12th president of Roanoke College. Since his inauguration, the college has undergone numerous changes, sparking concerns from students, faculty, and alumni.
The most contentious of President Shushok’s plans is the four-by-four teaching change for faculty. Under this new initiative, professors’ workloads will increase from three to four courses per semester, with no corresponding increase in pay. Additionally, the college plans to terminate adjuncts and lecturers, eliminating the perspectives gained from these faculty members and potentially jeopardizing the livelihood of members of the RC community.
These changes are not the only ones to have occurred recently at RC. Notably, the college has added a college football program and undergone an overhaul rebranding. This change has raised mixed emotions, with some eager for a boost in school involvement and spirit, while others question the financial sustainability of this move.
A petition was created by alumni following the announcement of the four-by-four plan. It underscores the reasons why so many love Roanoke College, including but not limited to, the small class sizes and the personalized learning style.
At the time of writing, the petition has garnered over 1,500 signatures, a number that continues to rise. If you are an alumnus who wishes to support this initiative, visit the digital edition of this article.
https://www.change.org/p/save-our-alma-mater-support-roanoke-s-faculty?recruiter=1315138982&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=cbe4fa20-4469-11ee-88f0-b92c3de425e0&share_bandit_exp=initial-37254843-en-US
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18FKMERmPzKXydaGeiipzNmp-2GRko7rFsiZhq5XVHYg/mobilepresent?slide=id.p1
