Support the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University

To:  FSU Administration

An open letter from foreign scientists to Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell, Provost Lawrence G. Abele, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Joseph Travis.

The Department of Oceanography at Florida State University recently appeared on a list of 21 academic programs proposed for closure over the next 3 years. The list was circulated as part of a draft budget document sent by FSU administrators to the Board of Trustees (http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/DraftBCC.12-3.pdf). The budget proposal is contingent upon the final decision of the Board and the next budgetary session of the state legislature. The inclusion of Oceanography on this list came as a shock to the members of the Department, and of many earth science Departments at the American level.

The present letter of support comes from Earth scientists working outside the USA: we, the undersigned, are feeling the need to underline the world-class quality of the research and teaching that is being done at Florida State University's Department of Oceanography, the scientific excellence of its faculty members, and its major contribution in training many highly skilled scientists over the last decades.

The present financial situation cannot justify the possible closure of this unanimously respected department at the international level. We firmly urge FSU administration to preserve the Department's identity and integrity, and to reconsider its possible closure in favor of an alternate solution.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Support the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University Petition to FSU Administration was created by and written by Thierry Penduff (Thierry.Penduff@hmg.inpg.fr).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.