“Upon becoming Brigham Young University-Idaho, the Brethren of the Church wanted to limit the school’s curriculum,” said Ron Bennett, chair of the Department of Communications. “To essentially be selective.”
As a result, courses and programs have been downsized, including the sign language program.
Once a part of the Communications Department, American Sign Language courses have been moved to the Continuing Education Department.
Also, the 102 course is no longer offered, leaving 101 the only option for students. However, for the upcoming 2006 winter semester, not a single ASL course is being offered.
In the past, Joan Olsen and Roger Merrill both taught ASL courses. Last winter, both of them moved on to other things.
For this semester, Rob Nielson, an adjunct professor from Pocatello, Idaho, will teach the only ASL course offered, which is a 101 class Wednesday evenings.
The 101 course gives students the opportunity to learn the history of ASL, acquire an awareness of the deaf culture and community, learn the basic sign vocabulary and grammar of ASL and understand the basic components of non-manual communication tools, according to www.byui.edu.
Bennett said that he sees no growth in the ASL program in the foreseeable future.
“We still consider this class to fill a cluster, although it isn’t a class we offer in the bachelor’s program. We do feel [the ASL classes] have value, especially to the deaf community,” said Bennett.
“Until a local qualified faculty member is found, multiple sections of ASL will not be offered,” said Chad Price, of Continuing Education.
Price said he will need to talk to Nielson about his desire to teach in the winter semester after having a semester behind him here at BYU-Idaho, and also to see if he will want to continue traveling to Rexburg from Pocatello, which is approximately 80 miles from the BYU-I campus.
In spite of the fact that the course offers a great service to students and the deaf community alike, due to the current situation, the ASL courses will not be on the 2006 winter semester schedule, or any term in the future, until further notice.
Nielson does have high hopes for turning the current situation around and bringing the course back in its fullness, and hopes to do so in the near future.
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