Despite the imminent approach of the upcoming spring semester, students in the Department of Dance find themselves more concerned than excited. The nullification of the appointment process for full-time faculty has left them worried about how students will receive guidance and ensure a stable path to graduation.
The provision outlined in Article 3, Paragraph 2 of Chapter 1 of Ewha Womans University’s Charter mandates the establishment of an educational system that harmonizes the demand and supply of academic pursuits between students and faculty members. In essence, this requires the university to offer courses that adequately cater to the academic needs of its students.
However, recent events surrounding the abrogation of the appointment process for fulltime dance faculty members have prompted scrutiny regarding whether Ewha has been earnestly, transparently, and justly adhering to such provisions.
In 2023, despite having over 200 students enrolled in the Department of Dance, only one full-time professor was dedicated to the department. According to Presidential Decree Number 33725, Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of Universities, in the case of arts and physical education departments, one instructor should be secured for every 20 students. Based on this criterion, the Department of Dance should have at least 10 instructors. However, this failure to secure an adequate number of instructors severely restricts the constitutional right to education, which is fundamental for both students and instructors.
Due to the violation, discontent among students continued to grow, causing the university’s administration to step in and address the issue. However, despite their efforts, the process of appointing additional professors for the department ultimately fell through. The root cause leading to this outcome stems from the flawed and inconclusive procedure for hiring full-time faculty members, leaving many dance students voiceless and apprehensive about their future.
An anonymous student majoring in dance expressed her feelings about the desperate situation.
“Currently, dance students at Ewha are facing the imminent retirement of Professor Cho KiSook, the sole full-time faculty member, around August,” she said. “If a full-time professor is not appointed this semester, there will be zero fulltime professors, leaving students who entered the university to learn with nowhere to turn.”
Such a situation will be particularly daunting for approximately 80 graduate students who are unsure how to proceed with their thesis writing without an advisor.
The students of the Department of Dance major in three main parts: Korean dance, ballet, and modern dance. Each part has its own unique characteristics, requiring appropriate guidance from professors. However, since there has been only one full-time professor in the Dance Department, students were unable to receive detailed guidance for each field.
“Many events have occurred that completely disregarded the students’ opinions,” she explained. “We are in a confused state, no longer able to receive adequate education.”
Furthermore, she emphasized how the Emergency Committee of the Department of Dance will continuously urge the school for ongoing reflection and institutional improvements by standing in solidarity with dance students and the victims who have experienced human rights violations as a result of this incident.
While the current issue may initially seem confined to students of the Department of Dance, as paying attendees of the university, all students have a vested interest and responsibility in ensuring the guarantee of their right to education. The shortage of full-time professors is not an isolated problem exclusive to the Department of Dance or Ewha alone.
According to the survey conducted by Ewha Voice from Feb. 13 to 19, out of 50 Ewha students, 67.5 percent reported that they are aware of the controversy surrounding the nullification of the appointment process for full-time faculty and the shortage of instructors in the Department of Dance. Furthermore, results revealed that students from different departments, such as the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, have encountered similar issues concerning the lack of major-related classes due to the shortage of full-time faculty members.
The ambiguity regarding the assurance of educational rights, stemming from the disparity in opinions between dance students and the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs, poses a recurring concern that could resurface in the future. Therefore, fostering open communication between students and the institution is paramount to ensure that both parties uphold their rightful entitlement to the tuition fees paid.