International Programs: D.C. Journalism Program canceled for fall

The Washington Journalism Program has been canceled for fall 2010 due to low enrollment, according to an International Programs email received by program applicants, a decision that initially blindsided College of Communication officials Monday.

The email, sent by IP Program Assistant Director Deborah Miller Monday afternoon, told applicants to notify IP as soon as possible if they wished to be considered for another program.

“I’m hoping it’s incorrect,” said COM Dean Tom Fiedler after being notified of the cancellation by The Daily Free Press. “The last conversation I had with them, which was last Wednesday night, was that we’re still going forward with it.”

After speaking with his contact in IP, Fiedler confirmed that IP officials had canceled the program for the fall in a meeting earlier Monday, and said it is possible that IP made the decision to scrap it without knowing all the facts.

“I think they made their decision without knowing that we were operating in an effort to try and pull this program though with a smaller number of students than we generally need to have,” Fiedler said.

The reason for IP’s possible ignorance, Fielder said, was that IP Executive Director Philippe Pavillard, who Fiedler said he had been communicating with about possible changes in the program to accommodate fewer students, was not present at the meeting for “very appropriate reasons.”

Phone calls to IP officials were not returned as of press time.

Fiedler said two students had applied in time for the March 31 deadline, which had already been extended 16 days, according to the IP website. Three other students had expressed interest, but Fiedler said he didn’t know if they completed their applications because those are handled through IP.

“If they didn’t, then we won’t be able to go forward,” Fiedler said.

Fiedler said Pavillard will check Tuesday morning with the IP administration group that made the decision to see if it is reversible

“We just would hate to find ourselves not having this program available for two consecutive semesters,” he said. “It really does hinge on whether we are able to have five students there. If not, then I don’t think it’s financially feasible.”

Second-semester graduate student Sarah Tann said she didn’t officially apply to the Washington Journalism Program because Miller told her to wait and see whether the program would still be on in the fall

“She asked me to hold off on it because they weren’t sure it was going to happen,” Tann said.

Tann also said she got an email Monday from IP telling her that the program that had drawn her to BU in the first place had been canceled.

“I didn’t apply for my classes because I thought I was going to D.C.,” she said. “I’m really crossing my fingers that they will change their mind and continue with the program.”

Tann said that the inconsistent messages about the fate of the program aggravated her.

“Even if they do change their mind it’s still very frustrating to say “OK the program’s going on, OK the program’s off,'” she said. “I wish that there would have been a better-informed email sent out to the people interested in doing the program.”

Fiedler said he didn’t blame IP for any communication problems.

“I don’t fault anybody in the IP side,” he said. “If anything, I fault our side here that we apparently didn’t communicate as thoroughly as we might have.”

Most puzzling, Fiedler said, is why interest in the program was so low in the first place.

“I’m really baffled as to what it is about spending a semester in Washington that doesn’t appeal to journalism students,” he said. “I feel somewhat dismayed we’re are even at this point where we are trying to get this program going rather than having people beating down the door saying “we want to go there.'”

“It sucks to begin with that there were only five students interested in the program,” Tann said. “I don’t think it’s going to help bring in students for the spring semester by canceling it.”