I had planned on attending WKU in the fall of 2014 as a 2+2 student once my AAS was finished. Now the CIT program is mothballed, and I'm forced to look for elsewhere for alternative programs. Best I can tell, the much-less-desirable "Systems Management" program they're advertising as a replacement for CIT, is not a 100%-online program. So it does me no good. I'm really disappointed by this. This was a disservice to current and future students.
T
Trenton Edwards
12 years ago
I only have 30 hours of CIT 400 classes and 2 CIT 300 classes left. I just need a year and a half left to finishlass
W
Wes Keown
12 years ago
CIT Students already pay a premium tuition for distance learning rates. I could NOT have attempted a bachelors program in the "traditional" manner due to work and family obligations. CIT is more on par with the technical work environment that CS or CIS. CS is over glorified and has this universal appearance of "the IT standard" and it's NOT! CS is heavily focused on programming and ignorant to other aspects of IT that are often much better IT skills for the real workforce. CIS is decent as a "catch all" but the management focus leaves IT mastery off the table. CIT offers it all; networking, programming, Windows client and server management, security, Linux, and IT business management. I am extremely happy that I am graduating this Spring and luckily am not affected directly other than my degree will become a piece of paper for an education field that doesn't exist. If they are going to proceed with the program cut then they need to stop these ridiculously expensive projects and focus on educating this generation. If this does happen they need to modify CS/CIS to have online offerings for EVERY class and expand the current offerings to cover a wider range of IT and allow students to cater their education to their desired skill set.
J
James Turley
12 years ago
Featured
That's right. If we were given this as a problem in one of our CIT classes and we gave "Close the program, send out 1 email, offer 1 year to finish and no additional help" as a solution... That solution would have been given minimum points.
K
kelly howard
12 years ago
I think this is terrible decision to cancel such a great program for all those who cannot physically attend a university in person.
T
Thomas Mitchell
12 years ago
Agreed. Something else to think about is that several companies send out invites to CIT program students for jobs and internships and have done so here in the past. But without a CIT program, just some classes, what company will waste the time to send such invites to a school who doesn't have the program and as a result students who may have had a chance to get a job in the field of their choosing will never get that opportunity.
N
Nicholas Gossett
12 years ago
Didn't I just take a class that explained when in the position of performing a massive overhaul on a system, you needed to be able to give people ample time and opportunity to make the switch with minimal damage? Getting the warning that the CIT program is being suspended after two additional semesters ending with Fall 2014 at the end of our semester in Fall 2013 seems like an unreasonably low allotment of time for people to make other arrangements. I wam on course to graduate within the next two semesters (luckily) however, due to what I consider to be unusual circumstances I wanted to weigh in. As educators, surely you must feel some obligation toward the successful future careers of your students. This announcement and short deadline feels like a cold shoulder is being turned on those who have chosen to be trained by you. I have been actively working during most of my education (something this department has actively encouraged) and I'm wondering how many others in this department are as well and who wouldn'tbe able to feasibly complete their requirements in the timeframe of only two semesters. More time should be given, or if that is in no way possible than some method of helping your students transition and not waste large chunks of their time and money at such a valuable time in their lives.
J
Justin Deason
12 years ago
I was quite upset when Dr. Butterfield announced that the CIT program was being indefinitely suspended. I would really like for WKU to give an extension for the CIT program until at least the Spring semester of 2015. I have enjoyed the classes and professors I have had so far, especially Dr. Butterfield, and I would really like to finish my CIT degree at WKU. My fellow CIT peers and I have spent time and financial resources into pursuing this degree; all we want is a fair chance to complete the program.
J
Joshua Hobbs
12 years ago
I may be closer to graduation than some who see a issue with this but I still find it completely unfair. To force me to take 6 classes the next 2 semesters is ridiculous. I understand if the program is coming to an end but to only give 2 semesters is crazy. I came to WKU for the program and spent a large amount of money to do so. Either a refund or extension should be put into place.
S
Sarah Asman
12 years ago
I think this is unfair to students who are currently enrolled in this program but will not complete it by December 2014. It forces students going part time to take on more courses than they can handle. It is unfair.
R
Rebekah Watts
12 years ago
Featured
I just started the CIT program this semester, Fall 2013. There is no way I will be able to finish all the courses in the given time, by 2014. It is a great concern of mine because I have worked very hard to get where I am to be stuck dead in my tracks by the decisions of WKU to help newer students, while disabling the other students to finish their degrees that they initially applied for. It honestly doesn't make any sense.
J
James Turley
12 years ago
I am frankly in shock by the announcement and the subsequent lack of knowledge and communication from the CIT faculty on the matter. I think that we deserve an extension or to be assisted in finding other universities courses that will complete our CIT degree. Either way we should be allowed time to finish the degree.
J
Jacob Schwindel
12 years ago
I work for the railroad taking trains from Indiana to Nashville, TN. I work 40-80 hours per week and I am also full time in the CIT program. I just started this major in fall 2013 and will not be able to finish by 2014 even at full time status. This program should be extended so that those who have started my finish. I would like either the program to be extended or i want a refund. I am using my gi bill and it only has a limited amount of time, and if this program becomes no more, i will have wasted a valuable asset to me that i fought over seas for. Extension or refund.
T
Thomas Mitchell
12 years ago
Although I am one of the lucky ones that will get to graduate, I do not agree with the decision and how badly it is affecting so many of my fellow students. I want it known that I support you in your efforts to get this decision reversed or to extend the time before shutting it down. Or at the very least, working with other schools to take care of EVERYONE who is a CIT student who wants to get their degree in that program.
C
Courtney McDowell
12 years ago
Like several who are signing (based on comments anyway) I am on track to graduate by the deadline of Fall 2014. However, also like most (hopefully all) of the other signers, I believe this sudden decision is unfair to those in the CIT program as of Spring '13 or earlier, who can't for one reason or another graduate within the given time frame. I'll be honest, with everything else the department has been doing, if I didn't have only two semesters left, I would already be transferring for spring. I feel especially sorry for those who are getting GI or other limited federal money to attend, as they are the worst affected by this decision. And I'm sorry, even if they modify the program, Systems Management is NOT the same as Computer Information Technology.
M
Mark Bemboom
12 years ago
In my opinion what is being done is unacceptable. It will not affect me as I only have 7 hrs remaining but I believe it is wrong.
R
Raymond Foley
12 years ago
I am not a WKU student. However, this is still wrong. The students that started ta WKU because of their online offerings should be allowed to complete them, or recieve a full refund for the classes they have already taken under the assumption of being able to complete their degree.
W
William Morley
12 years ago
I will not be able to complete the CIT courses by the end of 2014. As a non-traditional student working in the field, the CIT program in the web based format offered the best option for me to further my education. Due to my commitments, attending full time is not an option for me. By making this announcement after registration has been open for some time, even if I wanted to migrate to the Systems Management major (which I don't), most of the courses that have the ITV sessions geographically located where I can attend are either full or 1 or 2 away from being full. Not thrilled with the announcement, but outraged by the timing and the lack of consideration for the non-traditional part time students whom are trying to better themselves. WKU has had the reputation as a student focused institution. This decision and the timing of this decision put that reputation in jeopardy for this student.
W
Wesley Adams
12 years ago
The abrupt cancellation of a program should not be allowed. I really can't even express how ridiculous of a situation I feel that this is.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
I am truly outraged at the abrupt cancellation of the CIT program. Much like others who have signed this petition, I will not be able to finish my coursework by the end of 2014. What options do I really have at this point? None really.
I had planned on attending WKU in the fall of 2014 as a 2+2 student once my AAS was finished. Now the CIT program is mothballed, and I'm forced to look for elsewhere for alternative programs. Best I can tell, the much-less-desirable "Systems Management" program they're advertising as a replacement for CIT, is not a 100%-online program. So it does me no good. I'm really disappointed by this. This was a disservice to current and future students.
I only have 30 hours of CIT 400 classes and 2 CIT 300 classes left. I just need a year and a half left to finishlass
CIT Students already pay a premium tuition for distance learning rates. I could NOT have attempted a bachelors program in the "traditional" manner due to work and family obligations. CIT is more on par with the technical work environment that CS or CIS. CS is over glorified and has this universal appearance of "the IT standard" and it's NOT! CS is heavily focused on programming and ignorant to other aspects of IT that are often much better IT skills for the real workforce. CIS is decent as a "catch all" but the management focus leaves IT mastery off the table. CIT offers it all; networking, programming, Windows client and server management, security, Linux, and IT business management. I am extremely happy that I am graduating this Spring and luckily am not affected directly other than my degree will become a piece of paper for an education field that doesn't exist. If they are going to proceed with the program cut then they need to stop these ridiculously expensive projects and focus on educating this generation. If this does happen they need to modify CS/CIS to have online offerings for EVERY class and expand the current offerings to cover a wider range of IT and allow students to cater their education to their desired skill set.
That's right. If we were given this as a problem in one of our CIT classes and we gave "Close the program, send out 1 email, offer 1 year to finish and no additional help" as a solution... That solution would have been given minimum points.
I think this is terrible decision to cancel such a great program for all those who cannot physically attend a university in person.
Agreed. Something else to think about is that several companies send out invites to CIT program students for jobs and internships and have done so here in the past. But without a CIT program, just some classes, what company will waste the time to send such invites to a school who doesn't have the program and as a result students who may have had a chance to get a job in the field of their choosing will never get that opportunity.
Didn't I just take a class that explained when in the position of performing a massive overhaul on a system, you needed to be able to give people ample time and opportunity to make the switch with minimal damage? Getting the warning that the CIT program is being suspended after two additional semesters ending with Fall 2014 at the end of our semester in Fall 2013 seems like an unreasonably low allotment of time for people to make other arrangements. I wam on course to graduate within the next two semesters (luckily) however, due to what I consider to be unusual circumstances I wanted to weigh in. As educators, surely you must feel some obligation toward the successful future careers of your students. This announcement and short deadline feels like a cold shoulder is being turned on those who have chosen to be trained by you. I have been actively working during most of my education (something this department has actively encouraged) and I'm wondering how many others in this department are as well and who wouldn'tbe able to feasibly complete their requirements in the timeframe of only two semesters. More time should be given, or if that is in no way possible than some method of helping your students transition and not waste large chunks of their time and money at such a valuable time in their lives.
I was quite upset when Dr. Butterfield announced that the CIT program was being indefinitely suspended. I would really like for WKU to give an extension for the CIT program until at least the Spring semester of 2015. I have enjoyed the classes and professors I have had so far, especially Dr. Butterfield, and I would really like to finish my CIT degree at WKU. My fellow CIT peers and I have spent time and financial resources into pursuing this degree; all we want is a fair chance to complete the program.
I may be closer to graduation than some who see a issue with this but I still find it completely unfair. To force me to take 6 classes the next 2 semesters is ridiculous. I understand if the program is coming to an end but to only give 2 semesters is crazy. I came to WKU for the program and spent a large amount of money to do so. Either a refund or extension should be put into place.
I think this is unfair to students who are currently enrolled in this program but will not complete it by December 2014. It forces students going part time to take on more courses than they can handle. It is unfair.
I just started the CIT program this semester, Fall 2013. There is no way I will be able to finish all the courses in the given time, by 2014. It is a great concern of mine because I have worked very hard to get where I am to be stuck dead in my tracks by the decisions of WKU to help newer students, while disabling the other students to finish their degrees that they initially applied for. It honestly doesn't make any sense.
I am frankly in shock by the announcement and the subsequent lack of knowledge and communication from the CIT faculty on the matter. I think that we deserve an extension or to be assisted in finding other universities courses that will complete our CIT degree. Either way we should be allowed time to finish the degree.
I work for the railroad taking trains from Indiana to Nashville, TN. I work 40-80 hours per week and I am also full time in the CIT program. I just started this major in fall 2013 and will not be able to finish by 2014 even at full time status. This program should be extended so that those who have started my finish. I would like either the program to be extended or i want a refund. I am using my gi bill and it only has a limited amount of time, and if this program becomes no more, i will have wasted a valuable asset to me that i fought over seas for. Extension or refund.
Although I am one of the lucky ones that will get to graduate, I do not agree with the decision and how badly it is affecting so many of my fellow students. I want it known that I support you in your efforts to get this decision reversed or to extend the time before shutting it down. Or at the very least, working with other schools to take care of EVERYONE who is a CIT student who wants to get their degree in that program.
Like several who are signing (based on comments anyway) I am on track to graduate by the deadline of Fall 2014. However, also like most (hopefully all) of the other signers, I believe this sudden decision is unfair to those in the CIT program as of Spring '13 or earlier, who can't for one reason or another graduate within the given time frame. I'll be honest, with everything else the department has been doing, if I didn't have only two semesters left, I would already be transferring for spring. I feel especially sorry for those who are getting GI or other limited federal money to attend, as they are the worst affected by this decision. And I'm sorry, even if they modify the program, Systems Management is NOT the same as Computer Information Technology.
In my opinion what is being done is unacceptable. It will not affect me as I only have 7 hrs remaining but I believe it is wrong.
I am not a WKU student. However, this is still wrong. The students that started ta WKU because of their online offerings should be allowed to complete them, or recieve a full refund for the classes they have already taken under the assumption of being able to complete their degree.
I will not be able to complete the CIT courses by the end of 2014. As a non-traditional student working in the field, the CIT program in the web based format offered the best option for me to further my education. Due to my commitments, attending full time is not an option for me. By making this announcement after registration has been open for some time, even if I wanted to migrate to the Systems Management major (which I don't), most of the courses that have the ITV sessions geographically located where I can attend are either full or 1 or 2 away from being full. Not thrilled with the announcement, but outraged by the timing and the lack of consideration for the non-traditional part time students whom are trying to better themselves. WKU has had the reputation as a student focused institution. This decision and the timing of this decision put that reputation in jeopardy for this student.
The abrupt cancellation of a program should not be allowed. I really can't even express how ridiculous of a situation I feel that this is.
I am truly outraged at the abrupt cancellation of the CIT program. Much like others who have signed this petition, I will not be able to finish my coursework by the end of 2014. What options do I really have at this point? None really.