As KSC begins its spring semester, the college is missing some familiar faces from both faculty and staff as a result of the most recent state budget cuts. Faculty from history, political science, business management, music and environmental science have either left according to the December timeline for the Separation Incentive Package (SIP) program or will be leaving in May at the end of the spring semester.
Notably, former Chair of Environmental Studies, Geography and Sustainability Sasha Davis participated in the SIP, leaving at the end of the fall semester in December. An unnamed source said Davis tried to extend his departure to the end of the spring semester to hold his Honors-level Global Engagement course in the American Southwest, but was denied by superiors.
According to Phil Barker, director of the August-Morris Honors program, the global engagement course that he is hosting has had its class size cap increased to approximately 45 to accommodate students who were affected by the recent change.
However, in the face of these changes in faculty and staff, students and former professors are concerned about what this means for the future of the college and the impact professors like Davis have had on students.
“It’s completely understandable why [professors who took the SIP] chose [to leave]. I couldn’t imagine doing the work they are doing and not knowing if they are going to have a job the next day,” said senior Bee Wilkinson.
Wilkinson, a business management major and honors student, has seen three professors leave the department and Barker’s leaving as well added to the lack of communication from administrators that has left her wondering.
“Who is teaching our classes next semester [spring 2026]? Who do we go to [if there are questions or issues]?” asked Wilkinson. “With [Barker] leaving, luckily he is leaving end of year, but we’re [thinking] ‘Who are we going to go to if we have issues with the honors program,’ because we don’t know who is taking it over.”
Senior Patricia McDanolds, business management major and honors student, also expressed concern over the recent departures.
“I think it’s really sad, because [Davis], he loves his job, he loves teaching [and] he definitely expressed that to us when he was informing us he was leaving,” said McDanolds. “He has to start new [and] develop those relationships with new people all over again. He has to start completely over and it’s upsetting he has to go through that.”
“Same thing with [Barker],” said senior Ben McRae. “I think both of them are so connected on campus and everybody knows them, especially [Davis]. [If] we walk anywhere with him, I feel like every single person that goes by, whether it’s faculty or staff or a student, knows him.”
“I think that is another big thing we are losing; having those faculty members who are really, really connected in the community,” added McRae.
“I don’t think there is [a] way for us to put into words, especially in the case of [Davis], how he changed the trajectory of my life,” echoed Wilkinson. “I had never travelled [until a global engagement course held by Davis]. Since then, I have done a lot of travelling and it feels completely different.”
Timothy Fitzpatrick can be contacted at
tfitzpatrick@kscequinox.com
