Faculty’s Rejection of Creative Expression and Society Major Program: A Failure of Accountability

Faculty’s rejection of the Creative Expression and Society major program is the latest in a series of failures of accountability

When it comes to making decisions, sometimes it’s easier to keep things under wraps to avoid backlash. This seems to be the case with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toronto, who recently rejected the Creative Expression and Society major program without consulting students or faculty involved in the program.

The Creativity and Society program, currently offering a minor to 225 students at Victoria College, has received rave reviews from students and program director Adam Sol. Students praise the program for its academic stimulation and social benefits, with one student even crediting it for helping her make friends at the university.

Despite the positive feedback and strong enrollment in the minor program, the faculty decided to reject the application for a major program. This decision came as a surprise to Sol and the students involved, who were not consulted or informed about the rejection beforehand.

The rejection was based on concerns of overlap with creative writing programs offered by the Department of English. However, Sol had consulted with the English department to ensure there was no overlap, making the rejection even more puzzling.

This rejection is part of a broader trend of colleges scaling back programs, such as the discontinuation of the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health minor at New College. The rejection of the Creativity and Society major program is a blow to the vibrant and unique programs that make UofT a special place to study.

As students and faculty continue to fight for the program, it’s clear that the Faculty of Arts and Sciences needs to improve its communication and accountability when making decisions that impact students and their academic experiences.