SHAH ALAM: Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) Mass Communication (Masscomm) Alumni Association has expressed its dissatisfaction over a move to merge the varsity's Communication and Media Studies Faculty with two other science-stream faculties.
Masscomm UiTM Alumni president Basree Rakijan said the association repeatedly informed the university's maangement about its disagreement over the merging of faculties, but their opinions fell on deaf ears.
He said UiTM's administration was not forthcoming with the alumni about the situation.
"We did follow-ups with the university following the merger in November, but we were asked to wait for a decision from the (higher education) ministry.
"Then out of the blue, I was informed by the Higher Education Department that a letter had been dispatched to UiTM which suggested a remedy to the merger on Nov 1," said Basree.
However, Basree said that on Nov 7, UiTM's management told the alumni that it had yet to receive any letter from the Higher Education Department about the matter.
He also urged UiTM to seriously evaluate the ministry's suggestion on the merging of faculties.
In the letter, the Higher Education Department suggested that UiTM should change the name of the merged entities as the 'College of Communications, Media Studies, Computer and Informatics'.
It also said that the college should be restructured, and that the Mass Communication Faculty should be retained in its present form.
The merger involves three faculties: Communications and Media Studies Faculty, Computer Science and Mathematics Faculty, and Information Management Faculty.
Meanwhile, an alumnus of UiTM Mass Communications programme Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican said the merger between the three faculties was a step back for this premier higher learning institute.
"It's a regressive step taken by the university because I do not see any restructuring of curriculum, syllabus, or addition of new courses and programmess to reflect the merger (of the faculties). It's merely a forced marriage.
"As an alumnus, I have not been consulted formally on the merger. It's very disappointing," he said.
Feisal Othman Merican, another alumnus of the mass communication faculty, is angered by the merger as he felt the brand name of the faculty will be diluted and the merger will also tarnish the hard work of the past deans and members of its administration.
"I hold the vice-chancellor and the current dean accountable.They are doing a sloppy job. This exercise is not making Mass Comm Faculty progress in being a forerunner in the industry.
"Their plan belittles the faculty. We are in an era of misinformation, where we need good communication graduates to help tackle the issue," Feisal said.
He questioned the administration on the future of graduates and the media industry should the role of the faculty be diminished.
Basree said the alumni association has been called to attend a meeting with the Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Husaini Oma to discuss the matter.
UiTM's Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Roziah Mohd Janor had previously said that the restructuring of faculties was part of the austerity measures put in place by the university.