Wayne State program threatened (05/04/86)

Wayne State program threatened

WARREN, Mich. - Prof. Frank J. Corliss Jr., chairman of the Slavic department at Wayne State University, warned a group of Ukrainian lawyers here that unless the Ukrainian community could raise money to help fund the school's Ukrainian program, it might be discontinued.

Speaking before the Ukrainian-American Bar Association of Michigan recently, Prof. Corliss told the group that because the program faces a decreasing number of students, the dean of the liberal arts program has stated unless the community can fund annually one-half of the cost of the program, $1,500, it will be discontinued. The comment comes in light of budget curtailments at the university.

The Ukrainian program at Wayne State is offered in a four-semester sequence. Three semesters of Ukrainian language are offered and one semester of Ukrainian literature and culture for more advanced studies. But because enrollments vary over the four semesters, continuance of the program in certain semesters has been at the good will of the dean of the liberal arts program.

The professor of Ukrainian, Larissa Prychodko, will be retiring at the end of this semester after 20 years of service at Wayne State. Prof. Corliss said her successor is expected to be Vera Andrushkiw, a teacher at the Immaculate Conception High School. Ms. Andrushkiw holds a master's degree in Slavic studies from the University of Michigan. She will continue her duties at the high school when she assumes the post at Wayne State.

The Ukrainian community here assured Prof. Corliss that it would be able to raise the required amount to keep the Ukrainian program at the university alive. Several organizations and individuals have already pledged their support for the program. Prof. Corliss also urged the Ukrainian community to consider fund-raising for the publication of books on Ukrainian topics through Wayne State University Press as other ethnic communities have done. Contributions may be sent to: Wayne State University, Ukrainian Ethnic Heritage Fund, Detroit, Mich. 48202.

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