Recently the Dean of Undergraduate Studies made the decision to cut the IDS department’s instructional budgetary allocation in response to the $4.2 million deficit in Trent University’s budget. As a result, 2.0 full IDS credits will be cut in the 2011-2012 academic year. Additionally, 4.5 credits will be taught by CUPE instructors, who will not be able to offer IDS students the quality of instruction they deserve. The cuts will affect students’ education and threaten the reputation that the IDS program has deservingly earned. The IDS department has had exceptional retention rates over the years, due to the dedicated professors and the unique opportunities the program offers. Cuts to IDS are part of a broader cutback campaign, which has affected all departments at Trent. Undermining academics at Trent is diametrically opposed to maintaining the integrity of the institution. We the undersigned, hereby call upon the President of Trent University, and the Board of Governors to reallocate the International Development Studies Department funding in order to offer a Limited Term Appointment, and continue to offer the current number of IDS credits.  We will not find it acceptable for money to come from social science and humanities programs, which are also facing budget cuts. We stand in solidarity with all departments resisting budget re-allocations.

*please sign first and last names, as we are presenting this petition with the paper ones to the Trent Univeristy Board of Govenors, Friday March 25th at 11:00 am