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“French plays a strong role in a liberal arts institution, there’s no doubt about that,” said chair of Modern Language Department Prof. Andrea Bell. “But we do have to respond to changes.”

Total academic year enrollment in French classes dropped from 241 in the 1999-2000 school year to 93 in the 2005-06 year. The same statistical range for German shows a slight decrease from 109 to 94.

Hamline’s only two full-time French professors, Profs. Walter Blue and Tamara Root, are both set to retire in the spring of 2008. Now there is some concern among language students and officials that these statistics might dissuade the college from filling their vacancies when the time comes.

“The dean then makes decisions about what positions are filled,” said Interim Assistant Dean of the CLA Presley Martin. “Enrollment dropping might have implications for the future, but I don’t know of any of the the rankings or discussions at this point.”

Junior French student Jen Piller would not be happy if the French department was discontinued. “I’d be pretty upset. It’s been such a big part of my life,” Piller said.

She said that in her French classes, she is not just learning a language, she is learning the culture, history, and politics of French speaking areas.

The April 2006 Modern Languages’ Case Statement for Future Hires proposes that “The long-term staffing plan keeps the number of permanent French and German faculty to three full-time positions.” However, Blue’s replacement (like Blue) will function as a bridge between the German and French programs, teaching and advising students of both languages.

The Modern Languages’ Case Statement is a document written by Modern Language professors and submitted to the faculty Planning and Development Committee (PDC) in the spring. The PDC consists of five faculty members, one from each division of the CLA and and two from Social Sciences.

According to Assistant Dean of the CLA Pres Martin, the PDC makes a recommendation to the Dean Fernando Delgado, in the form of a ranking of the positions most important to fill to the least important.

Neither Martin nor Delgado held these offices at the time the 2006 case statment was filed last spring. The 2007 statement will not be proposed until April.

“In the broader scheme of things, it really helps, and I feel I can speak for my peers too who have continued through the program,” said Piller.

If Hamline decides not to continue a French program, university students could take courses through the ACTC system. Even though Piller said she thinks her peers would continue their French education if it ends up being an ACTC program, college officials say that that is not an option they want to consider.

“The strategies of the ACTC seem not functional enough to handle majors,” said Global Studies Chair Prof. Van Dusenbery. “What message are we giving out to high school students if we say we don’t offer French or German? This is what high schools teach,” said Dusenbery.

According to Dusenbery, Global Studies teaches “global flows and how they play out in different places. If we don’t have the languages to go there, we are missing out.” He said that Global Studies majors are required to have a certificate of proficiency in a language and to study abroad and do research in that country.

“We need higher level courses so students can conduct research and carry out fieldwork. I would hate to see us contract rather than expand,” said Dusenbery.

In addition, Bell points out that adjuncts, as well as the ACTC system, cannot provide what a tenure-track professor at Hamline can. “We’re glad to have adjuncts. They’re often times very good, but they don’t do advising or committee work,” said Bell. “We need full time professors to do recruitment, work with the Fall Fair and teach FYSEM classes.”

The 2006 case statement says that French and German enrollments have declined nationally during the 1990s but have since stabilized and are beginning to grow. It notes that recently-opened French and German immersion schools in the Twin Cities will add a new pool of students that Hamline can recruit.

It also says that, “At the spring 2006 reception for admitted students, 12 of the 32 inquiries fielded were about French and German. We do not want to lose these students.”
Dusenbery notes that the relationship with University Gastone Berger in Senegal was set up so that Hamline students could use their French speaking skills. He said the Global Studies department, the International Journalism program, and the International Management program all include language study as part of their programs, and French is very much a part of that.

“We need people with language skills, and French and German are still important for historical research and for study abroad programs,” said Dusenbery. “At the very least there need to be teachers to provide students with a certificate.”

All things considered, it is likely the college’s decision will not be known until late this school year. However, it is clear that no matter what the outcome, a lot of people, both on and off campus, will be affected.

“I understand the college’s concerns,” said Piller. “But having a lot of options is a big part of Hamline, and if you take away those options, it’s not good.