Is it morally allowable for the Univeristy of San Francisco to cut it's MA Theology Program?

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Well the University of San Francisco is cutting the MA Theology program claiming that it is not “in the black”. Despite this the school plans to add 3 new MA programs. One of which is ironically a buisness degree.

So my question is this:

Is it morally permissable for the University to cut the program citing financial difficulty?
 
The first question that comes to mind is what are they teaching in the Theology Program? If it is “una cum” the Berkeley program, I’d say cut it quick before someone else loses the Faith. However it would be interesting to me to know if they have been active in promoting the program over the past 25+ years. Who is lecturing, and what texts are being used.

If they are teaching authentic Catholic Teachings, and promoting Catholic Morals, I’d say it would be immoral to simply drop the program. I doubt however this is the case.
 
From my personal experience they are some active very holy Catholic teachers there. Others are undecided and liberal. And I tend to butt heads with them. Though as a conservative I feel that mostly I am respected when I voice my opinion. Not always but around 99% of the time.

I would say that if someone is secure in thier faith this program actually strengthens it rather than weakens it.

We have read Rahner, Lonergan, Ormerod, Barth, Tillich, Augustine, and several others. The teachers will usually let you know which theologians they like, but they have been good about not trying to force anyone to believe in thier one branch of theology or theologian.

I personally think we might have some conversions back to Christianity among members of my own cohort.
 
I don’t think this is a moral issue. It’s more of a societal one. Fact is that not nearly as many people are studying Theology nowadays. If not enough tuition is coming in to cover the cost of the Professors and other staff members needed to keep the program running, then the University really has no choice. I don’t see the correlation between them adding 3 new MA degrees. Each program needs to, essentially, be able to fund itself. The Theology program obviously wasn’t. That doesn’t make it wrong to add new programs that are potentially self-sufficient.
 
Is it a Catholic university? I would venture to say it is not, so they have no obligation whatsoever to include a theology program, regardless of its profitability and the profitability of other offerings that might replace it.

If it was a good program, it might be better to keep it, from a certain standpoint, but not if it endagers the viability of the entire University.

We can’t make a moral absolute out of every disappointment.

Betsy
 
AdriannaJean said:
I don’t think this is a moral issue. It’s more of a societal one. Fact is that not nearly as many people are studying Theology nowadays. If not enough tuition is coming in to cover the cost of the Professors and other staff members needed to keep the program running, then the University really has no choice. I don’t see the correlation between them adding 3 new MA degrees. Each program needs to, essentially, be able to fund itself. The Theology program obviously wasn’t. That doesn’t make it wrong to add new programs that are potentially self-sufficient.
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I agree with Adrianna. This is not a moral issue but a financial one.
 
Betsy,

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure it is Jesuit.
 
AdriannaJean said:
Betsy,

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure it is Jesuit.
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Yes it is as Jesuit University. I worked in the admissions office back in the 1970’s. The recently hired Dean of admissions was a Mormon. I thought that was really strange. He was a nice guy, but it seemed strange for a Catholic University.
 
Yep they are Jesuit though their influence seems to be in decline.

Seriously, you don’t see any correlation between adding of three new programs while cutting a theology program at a Jesuit university? It’s a clear cut case of greed. How hard could the University be suffering for money that it must cut the program that is most vital to its mission? And still claim hardship despite adding 3 more programs.

There is no reason why USF cannot have a thriving program if it was given the chance to. The study of God never gets old, and even in down years this program alone should be afforded a break on whether it is in the black or the red.
 
Considering their view on morality it may be the best thing they have done.
In keeping with what has apparently become a tradition of inviting dissidents to speak at its commencement exercises, undergraduate humanities and sciences students at the Jesuit-run University of San Francisco will hear South African Bishop Kevin Dowling when they graduate on Friday, May 22. In a 2007 newspaper interview, Bishop Dowling, ordinary of the Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, defied Church teaching on abstinence before marriage, saying, “Abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in a marriage is beyond the realm of possibility here. The issue is to protect life. That must be our fundamental goal." Bishop Dowling also parted ways with the Church on the issue of condom use, saying of Africans, “They must use condoms.”
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Bishop Dowling is also scheduled to deliver the homily at a commencement Mass preceding the graduation ceremony.
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Joe,

You make a great point. All I can say is that the theology department, in my view, is not “The University of San Francisco”. I get the feeling that if the head of the theology department were the president of the university would still be considered liberal, but would have a decent Catholic theology department.

~R
 
Since both the University of San Francisco and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley are run by Jesuits, perhaps it is a better use of resources to consolidate teaching theology in one place. Either by bridge or by BART it wouldn’t be far to go.
 
RedSoxFan said:
Well the University of San Francisco is cutting the MA Theology program claiming that it is not “in the black”. Despite this the school plans to add 3 new MA programs. One of which is ironically a buisness degree.

So my question is this:

Is it morally permissable for the University to cut the program citing financial difficulty?
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I would say yes. It is their university and they can cut whatever programs they want. If you are so interested in such a program, you are free to start your won university and offer it.
 
RedSoxFan said:
Well the University of San Francisco is cutting the MA Theology program claiming that it is not “in the black”. Despite this the school plans to add 3 new MA programs. One of which is ironically a buisness degree.

So my question is this:

Is it morally permissable for the University to cut the program citing financial difficulty?
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I have voted yes. The reason is that, the administrators of the programs of the University alone have all of the facts. It may be that the MA in Theology program is not drawing students and that it is potentially expensive to run it well. More popular programs, like, for instance, Business, may be more financially viable. While I believe a Catholic University should offer theological education, I do not think it is morally wrong to discontinue the MA in Theology.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Since both the University of San Francisco and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley are run by Jesuits, perhaps it is a better use of resources to consolidate teaching theology in one place. Either by bridge or by BART it wouldn’t be far to go.
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The problem with that is the entire student population in USF’s program are weekend students who work during the week. If they cut the USF program they will be unable to attend the JTSB. Unless the JTSB were to run two distinct MA-Theology programs which could take care of both schedules, there would be a group of students left out in the cold. I have seen no indication by the JTSB that even indicates they would be willing to run 2 different MA programs.
 
bobzills said:
I would say yes. It is their university and they can cut whatever programs they want. If you are so interested in such a program, you are free to start your won university and offer it.
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This is absurd sir! Absurd! It is my University, and belongs to all who have attended it. It also claims to be Catholic and as such I have even more of a right to voice my objection when the President of the University is leading it into sin.

As for creating a new university that too is a good idea. Yet we wouldn’t need to create so many new Catholic universities if the current ones actually acted as if they were being run by Catholics.

~RSF
 
Dori1 said:
I have voted yes. The reason is that, the administrators of the programs of the University alone have all of the facts. It may be that the MA in Theology program is not drawing students and that it is potentially expensive to run it well. More popular programs, like, for instance, Business, may be more financially viable. While I believe a Catholic University should offer theological education, I do not think it is morally wrong to discontinue the MA in Theology.
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I can see your point of view, but…

It’s not like it is a Catholic Hospital that’s first priority is healing sick people. It’s a University so it’s first priority should be education and as a Catholic University it’s first priority should be Catholic Education. Which puts the Theology Program at the top of the list of priorities.

Secondly, the head of the department has been in correspondence with the entire cohort and much of the alumni over the past few months. I have personally tried to set up appointments with the president only to have him blow off those meetings and our invitation to speak with us. If there is anything Fr. Privett would like to speak to us about concerning the program he has more than enough avenues to dialogue with us.

We know exactly what is going on here at USF. We still encourage the President to dialogue with us.

~RSF
 
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