Case Western Reserve University

Date: Feb 24 2008
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
The long and short of Case's history is this: The university has a long series of opportunities and assets that it throws away, neglects or disregards in favor of 'a new plan'. This may be the sad story of many other universities but it is definitely true of Case.

An example: 'The College Scholars Program is one of Case's truly unique programs' ~Accreditation Committee '05. This program was and is a collection of students that are selected from a list of applicants to work for 3 years together and to choose and direct a large portion of their study. This means in a practical sense they have a 3credit hour/semester class together for their 2nd 3rd and 4th years together and that they can choose to study anything from Stephen Hawking, to Dante's The Inferno (and far more bizarre topics too) The collection of 15 or so students meet weekly for 3-4hrs and teach each other alternating teaching positions etc. Anyway to cut a long story short, it is one of the university's more innovative programs that may not be good for everyone but is available for those who are motivated. Over the past 10yrs, as the accreditation committee also noted, the budget and resources have been cut from the program. The house that was devoted to the Scholars program was 'redistributed' to a sorority, where in the past it was a place for Scholars to live together, and study together.

Another example: Chemistry: Mention the name 'Doc Oc' to any of the older students on campus who had him before he passed away and you will hear ecstatic reviews of Dr. Ignasio Ocasio's ability to teach and inspire students in a subject that might otherwise be quite tedious for many, chemistry. Doc was one of Case's star faculty in the eyes of the students. He had been teaching for decades and didn't manage to do too much research but he took the teaching burden from other faculty and taught chemistry with an ability and talent second to none. Aside from his untimely demise, the tragedy is the complete lack of appreciation of Doc by the faculty and administration (and while Doc is one example there are many others too). He was repeatedly refused tenure and his salary was repeatedly cut.

I would encourage those of you looking to look at other universities other than case. While this may occur at other universities I believe Case is in need of more than 'a new plan' it needs a new attitude, and that will take it a while to develop. (I'm sorry I don't want to submit my email with this because I still work with faculty and students of Case)