Ruth Santana | Staff Writer
FIU is making big strides towards excellence, but it seems that some majors are being left out.
In 2023, former FIU President Kenneth Jessell and other faculty members began constructing “Experience Impact 2030” where they outlined goals and strategies to promote the university’s capabilities in terms of research, innovation development, funding and better opportunities for students.
In 2025, FIU was named one of the top 50 public universities in the nation, along with other accolades such as being a preeminent research university and increased money in funding. To continue this winning streak, Jennette Nuñez, FIU interim president, stated in an email that she will continue with the previously implemented plan of “Experience Impact 2030.”
Since then, the university has received $2 million from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to expand access to cancer research technology.
This plan seems like a great advancement for STEM and other “practical” majors like law or business, but what about everyone else?
The plan rattles off goals to “increase economic growth, a strong research framework, business sector development and increase commercialization,” effectively leaving humanities and art majors out of the mix.
The Humanities Edge program supports approximately 5,000 current and future FIU students, and that doesn’t take into account every humanities and art student.
To leave them out feels ridiculous.
“Experience Impact 2030” states that the institution will focus on leadership in “culture and arts.” But what does that mean?
So far, FIU has ranked top in a few humanities majors, but there is always room for improvement. Recently, the school of public relations, advertising, and applied communication (PRAAC) students won awards for their submissions to the YoungOnes Awards for ad design and digital communication, but it feels like “Experience Impact 2030” will forget them and what they contributed to the university.
Humanities and art majors have received only a small portion of the $2.4 million granted in funding in 2024.
The initiative also highlights strategic alliances, but with Nuñez currently calling the shots, I wonder what that means. Considering her political background and DeSantis’s promotion of her candidacy–from a governor who cut funding for art programs–I must say it looks bleak.
With right-wing ideology making big waves in education, such as the disposal of DEI, LGBTQ+ rights classes and critical race theory discussions, I wonder what educational initiatives might be on the chopping block to gain funding.
I agree that it is an excellent opportunity for the university to make changes, but as a journalism student, I have my worries about what this means for us.
It seems that STEM majors are more important than ours. I feel that people forget how journalism affects their everyday lives.
As a writing based major we thread societies together and shine a light on issues that might have been unknown or disregarded, while also informing audiences of national and international polices that could affect them and their livelihood. To possibly exclude us and other humanities majors from future funding initiatives feels absurd.
It feels like a domino effect to downplay our importance.
I understand this plan is to increase cash flow to and from the university and carve out a space at the top— but leaving out the arts is a big mistake.
Artists, actors, chefs, designers, philosophers, writers, musicians and filmmakers make a remarkable impact on the world around them and create beauty that transcends money.
Passion and expression should not be cast aside and forgotten but uplifted as well. Healthcare, mathematics, engineering, law and business are all noble professions – but poetry, music and art are what sustains us.
I applaud the university for focusing on improving, but every student from every major should be represented in “Experience Impact 2030”. Progress for some is not progress for all. To leave humanities and art majors out of the mix grossly undervalues what we contribute to the university and the world.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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