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MEDIA CONTACT: Ellen Schantz at 847-491-5260
or eschantz@northwestern.edu
PDF version of
this statement
The decision by the Northwestern University School of Music
to recommend the closure of degree programs in organ came after
thorough review of the program and consultation with the elected
School of Music Faculty Executive Committee. This recommendation
was based on the combination of low demand—for example,
only one undergraduate major has enrolled in the program in the
past three years—the fact that the one faculty member who
teaches organ music on a full-time basis will be leaving Northwestern
this year, assessment of the likelihood of the organ program's
achieving recognized excellence, and the need to allocate the
school's resources wisely.
In the past several years, the School has invested significant
resources in the organ program, including hiring an organ professor
and other part-time instructors, and offering scholarships. Despite
these and other efforts, the number of students enrolling in
the program has continued to dwindle, and there is no indication
this trend will reverse itself in the future. Given these factors,
we believe it is unlikely that Northwestern would be able to
sustain a high-quality program in organ performance.
There currently are 11 students who are majoring in organ in
all levels—undergraduate, master's, and doctorate—and
only one will require additional organ instruction after the
current academic year to complete her degree. All 11 students
will be able to complete the degree program in which they are
currently enrolled, provided they make normal progress to their
degree. In addition, the music school will continue to offer
high-quality instruction in organ for students who wish to study
on a non-degree basis.
In accordance with University policy, the recommendation to
end the degree program has been forwarded to Northwestern’s
chief academic officer, the provost, who will seek the counsel
of the General Faculty Committee. If the recommendation is accepted,
the decision will take effect at the end of the current academic
year.
As a steward of this great institution, I am mindful of the
tradition of organ at the Northwestern School of Music, which
is why we have given this decision a great deal of thought. The
School of Music is one of the top musical institutions in the
country. We can maintain—and improve upon—that level
of excellence by focusing our efforts and our resources on areas
that distinguish us as one of the country’s leading musical
institutions.
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