<p>I do not know. But Bio is the differentiation factor for sure. UCSD stands out in the crowd based on the strong biology department.</p>
<p>So you’re saying that only people who go on to a health-related career are the only people who are worthy of majoring in biology? Because research is valuable too. Scientific consulting is valuable too. High school teaching is extremely valuable. I think you’re underestimating why biology is important, especially in an area know for its heavy biotechnology presence, even without UCSD around. Ex. Illumina, Amylin, Pfizer are all major companies within 3 miles of UCSD.</p>
<p>Cutting the majors isn’t going to help. There will simply be maybe one less administrative person ($35,000/year salary) but the number of people majoring in biology overall isn’t going to drop.</p>
<p>And yes, the majors are almost all the same. Given what I took, had I substituted two classes for two other classes, I could have graduated with a Molecular Biology major. Had I switched out 3 or 4, I would have had a Human Biology major. They’re all the same, except for bioinformatics and ecology. And all of those classes which are substituted aren’t specific to one particular major. Taking Mammalian Physiology is a requirement for both human biology and physiology/neuroscience majors. Most of the extremely specialized classes still have 100 students signed up. </p>
<p>Why would you cut classes in biology (well, some have been cut or reduced in frequency, but I’ll leave this point alone)? All of the classes are 100-400 people already (except labs), and many people go to UCSD for its strength in biology. Also, all of your BioE friends are required to take certain classes in the biology department; would you want opportunities cut for them within the engineering department that way?</p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but structural and aerospace engineering are not the more popular engineering majors on campus. (I was under the impression that bioE, chemE, mechE, EE and CE were much more popular.) Perhaps that’s why it’s taken such a “drastic hit” as you seem to imply? The Jacobs School does a ridiculously good job of fundraising–maybe you should look to them to provide you with the classes you want? Because over at biology, we envy you for your fundraising capabilities. And by we, I don’t mean the students. I mean the administration too.</p>
<p>Also, cutting executive pay isn’t going to help much. If you pay them all $200,000 instead of whatever ridiculous amount they’re getting, you’d be saving what, $3 million at the most? Cut it between the 10 campuses and it’s pennies in the whole scheme of things.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, I don’t think cutting bio classes will fly at the office of Chancellor Fox. She knows better. </p>
<p>BTW, I get to know Prof. Fox when she was at UT over 20 years ago…</p>