Never mind the Future, It’s the Budget Cutbacks

(PRWEB) April 2, 2004 — The Association of Professional Futurists has learned that the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) has begun a process to discontinue its graduate program in Studies of the Future due to budgetary cutbacks. Founded 30 years ago, the Futures Program currently enrolls about 30 students, all of whom will be given the opportunity to graduate in a reasonable amount of time.

According to Dr. Peter Bishop, Associate Professor of Human Sciences and Chair of the program, while UHCL will admit no more students into the Futures Program, it will continue to operate until all students currently enrolled have been given the chance to graduate.

“It is the only stand-alone degree in Future Studies offered in the United States, and one of only a few in the world,” notes Dr. Bishop. “Enrollment in the Futures Program has always been low compared to other degree programs, but it had a unique role in preparing graduates for professional practice. However, smaller budgets for higher education force universities like UHCL to increasingly focus its resources to support programs with higher enrollments.”

When I read this, I heard John Lydon’s laugh resonating in my head. No future, indeed.