Just a word of reassurance

We have received a number of inquiries from current students about being able to complete the program if the program is eliminated. If, and I say IF, the program is eliminated, everyone in the program will receive the necessary courses to complete the degree. In fact, we are so confident of succeeding in our efforts that we are accepting new applicants.

You can help us in our efforts by participating in various initiatives such as attending the Campus Town Hall meeting on January 28th. It is being held from Noon - 1:30 at the Maroney Theatre located at 1025 N. Olive Road. (http://map.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/buildings/DRAMA.shtml) Your presence at that meeting will be very important.

In addition you can send general comments to focus@email.arizona.edu
Or letters to:

President Likins at plikins@arizona.edu, PO Box 210066, University of Arizona,
Tucson, AZ 85721

George Davis, Provost, at gdavis@u.arizona.edu, PO Box 210066, University
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721


Susan Irwin
Program Manager
Information Resources and Library Science
University of Arizona
1515 E. First Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
520.621.3567
sirwin@email.arizona.edu
www.sir.arizona.edu

 
Attention Alumni

Dear SIRLS Alumni,
Please update your records with the Library School. The current directory lists fewer than 300 alums!

The URL for the directory is:
http://timon.sir.arizona.edu/alumni/directory.html#b
You can submit or update your directory information online at
http://timon.sir.arizona.edu/alumni/alumform.html

And if you are not on IRLSALUM, the SIRLS Alumni listserv, please consider joining if you wish to receive updates on the school's fight to
exist. You can do this by writing Susan Irwin, SIRLS Program Manager at sirwin@EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU

Please feel free to forward this message to any alumni you are in contact with so we can spread the word.

--Lisa Bunker
SIRLS Class of 2001

 
Let's write editorials!

Here are some local publications we need to write editorials to. I would suggest that we don't all do this today, but that we find a way to do it as a constant wave of concern over the next 100 days. I am sending letters tonight. there are some ideas of things to discuss/address at the end of this email. sEnd letters to any and all publications in town that you can think of. If you live near a local public library, take a stroll over there and let the librarians on duty know what is up and tell them to send messages to focas@u.arizona.edu where the university is collecting comments on there changes on campus.

Christine

ARIZONA DAILY STAR
E-mail letters to letters@azstarnet.com
Fax to 573-4141
Mail to P.O. Box 26807,
Tucson, AZ 85726-6807
* Letters must include the author's full name, address and daytime phone number.
* We prefer short letters. All letters may be edited for clarity or shortened to fit the allocated space.
* Because of the volume of letters, we cannot acknowledge unpublished letters.

All letter submissions become the property of the Arizona Daily Star.

WILDCAT Editorials
To submit a letter to the Daily Wildcat, fill out the form below or send an e-mail to letters@wildcat.arizona.edu. Include your full name,
degree/department, and email address.

**no mater the press, shorter, calm, rational, and persuasive editorials are chosen over those that are none of these.

Points you can point out:
What is a research institute without a "killer" research library employing professionals and professionals to be in high numbers?

We have over 200 graduate students, we are on the pioneering edge of large portions of our classes being on-line.

We are an extremely diverse department and we support several programs in the region that directly improve the lives of minorities in southwestern
Arizona.

We can and have presented a business plan that will allow us to be a financially viable unit in the university in a matter of a few short years if not
nearly immediately.

We have accepted record numbers of students for each of the past two years due to our spreading good reputation and hard working faculty, staff,
and administration.

We were NEVER unaccredited. We were merely under probation for a couple years and we quite successfully gained full accreditation again after very
close scrutiny by the ALA.

We contribute to the university and community libraries and museums in many ways, so that closing SIRLS will have a negative impact on the workings
and previously easy hiring practices of local libraries, corporations, and institutes.

We have student initiatives to read to local elementary schools, send books to needy international libraries, and other philanthropic projects that
are conceived and run by SIRLS students in their free time.

YOU CAN THINK OF MANY MORE??!

 
January 15, 2003

Articles about these proposals can also be found at:

Arizona Daily Star -
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/30115UACUTS.MAIN.html(you may even
recognize some of the people in the second photo, all SIRLS faculty, students & alumni)

Arizona Daily Wildcat - http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/96/75/01_1.html

 
January 14, 2003

Greetings and best wishes for 2003 to you and everyone you care about.


Proposal for Program Eliminations

Over the past few months, we've kept you up to date about the University’s strategy for “Focused Excellence” as a way to deal with substantial cuts in funding for Arizona’s universities.

Just a few minutes ago, UA President Peter Likins released a lengthy memo listing programs he and Provost George Davis are recommending for elimination as part of the Focused Excellence plan. We wanted to get the document in your hands immediately so you can read the whole thing if you care to. If you live in Arizona, there also will be plenty to read in the Republic, Star, Citizen, and Wildcat.

The proposal is not a surprise. As we mentioned in our last newsletter, Likins and Davis had spent the better part of November and December consulting with deans, UA vice presidents, and campus committees seeking advice on how best reorganize and focus resources on fewer programs.

Likins asked us to stress that these are, at the moment, proposals, not decisions. The discussion with the wider community, including alumni, begins now. Final recommendations will go to the Regents, most likely in June.

If, after reading Likins’ document and reading other people’s takes in the papers, you have thoughts to share, please send them to: focus@email.arizona.edu. It would be great if you would identify yourself as an alumnus. The site has been set up to collect comments that can be seen by the president, provost, and others in the planning process.

If you would like more information please contact SIRLS at 621-3565 or at
sirls@u.arizona.edu.

Susan Irwin
Program Manager
Information Resources and Library Science
University of Arizona
1515 E. First Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
520.621.3567
sirwin@email.arizona.edu
www.sir.arizona.edu