Special zone for the suspension of enrollment in the 115th academic year

Tzu Chi University Department of Oriental Languages ​​and Literature’s Application to Cease Enrollment for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

 

Reasons for Application:

According to the “Regulations Governing the Addition and Adjustment of Degree Programs in Departments and Schools of Tzu Chi University,” departments with an undergraduate program whose enrollment rate (excluding additional places) in the most recent academic year is less than 70%, whose current enrollment (including additional places but excluding deferred students) is less than 70% of the total enrollment quota (excluding additional places) for the most recent two consecutive academic years, or who have reduced enrollment for two consecutive years, may be merged, suspended, or eliminated. After thorough discussion among faculty and students, this application to suspend enrollment has been submitted. Furthermore, in line with the university’s plan to gradually transform into a university with a bachelor’s degree program in humanities and social sciences, this application aims to continuously cultivate interdisciplinary talents with a multicultural perspective, digital innovation capabilities, critical thinking, and social concern.

 

Enrollment statistics for the undergraduate programs in this department over the past three years:

academic year Approved enrollment quota (A) Number of admitted students Number of registered users (B) Registration rate (B) / (A) × 100%
111 5 5 5 100
112 5 5 4 80
113 4 4 4 100

 

Procedures and Communication with Faculty and Students Regarding the Suspension of Enrollment:

The application to suspend enrollment for the bachelor’s and master’s programs in this department was processed in accordance with Article 12 of the Ministry of Education’s “Standards for the Overall Development Scale and Resource Conditions of Junior Colleges and Above.” The relevant administrative procedures are as follows: Departmental Meeting → Public Hearing on Suspension of Enrollment → Deliberation by the College Meeting → Deliberation by the School Development Committee → Resolution by the School Meeting → Submission to the Ministry of Education for the 2026 Academic Year → Approval by the Ministry of Education. The relevant meetings regarding the suspension of enrollment, as well as the communication with faculty and students, are described below in terms of “Meetings and Explanations,” “Protection of Students’ Rights to Education,” and “Planning and Counseling for Faculty and Staff.”

 

  1. Relevant Meetings, Briefings, Notices, and Communication:

(I) First Departmental Meeting: On August 15, 2014, the Department of Eastern Languages ​​held its first departmental meeting (via video conference) for the 2014 academic year. The meeting discussed the department’s development plan after the 2016 academic year, and for the first time raised the question of whether to discontinue enrollment in 2016. Vice President Ho Yu-chi, Vice President Tai Chang-hsien, Dean Hsieh Kun-jui, and Dean Hsu Chun-chia all attended the meeting. This meeting primarily facilitated two-way communication, allowing faculty members to share their thoughts on the department’s future development plan and whether to continue enrolling students.

 

(II) Second Departmental Meeting: On September 11, 2014, the Department of Eastern Languages ​​held its second departmental meeting for the 2014 academic year, formally proposing to discuss the discontinuation of enrollment in the 2016 academic year. Vice President Ho Yu-chi and Dean Hsu Chun-chia both attended. The Department of Eastern Languages ​​faculty review committee voted by secret ballot, with 9 votes in favor and 1 vote against, passing the discontinuation proposal.

(III) Communication with Students in Courses and Through Correspondence: From September 11th to 18th, 2024, faculty members are requested to maintain close communication with students during required courses and through electronic communication methods to understand their thoughts and needs.

 

(IV) Public Hearing on the Suspension of Enrollment: On September 20th, 2024, the Department of Oriental Languages ​​held a public hearing on the suspension of enrollment for the 2026-2027 academic year. (Announcements were made on September 13th, 2024, and all students were notified by email on September 16th). Vice President Ho Yen-Chi and Dean Hsu Chun-Chia attended. All faculty members of the Department of Oriental Languages, as well as all undergraduate and graduate students, were invited to attend and participate in the two-way explanation and exchange.

 

(V) Academic Affairs Meeting: On September 26th, 2024, the Academic Affairs Meeting of the College of Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences proposed to discuss the suspension of enrollment for the 2026-2027 academic year in the Department of Oriental Languages. The proposal was passed by secret ballot with 17 votes in favor and 1 vote against.

 

(vi) School Affairs Development Committee: The proposal was discussed and passed on October 15, 2024.

 

(vii) School Affairs Meeting: The proposal was discussed and passed on October 25, 2024

 

  1. Protection of Students’ Rights to Education

. (I) Planning and Procedures for Cessating Enrollment

 

To address the cessation of enrollment for bachelor’s and master’s programs, this department has convened a departmental meeting and held a public hearing for all faculty, staff, and students, in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s overall standards. These meetings addressed considerations for the cessation of enrollment, protection of students’ educational rights, and subsequent staff placement plans. All relevant procedures have been completed.

 

(II) Principles for Protecting Students’ Educational Rights

 

Based on the “Principles for the Implementation of the Ministry of Education’s Guidance on the Improvement and Cessation of Private Colleges and Universities”: “10. Private colleges and universities that have ceased enrollment in some or all classes by the Ministry should continue to offer classes and ensure the quality and rights of existing students. Schools may not force students to transfer and should provide courses according to the curriculum plan until students complete the required credits. For students who wish to transfer, schools should issue transfer certificates and assist with the transfer process.” To protect the learning rights of students who have not yet graduated, comprehensive student rights protection measures have been established to safeguard students’ educational rights. The following principles are established:

  1. Curriculum Planning: After enrollment is suspended, the department will continue to operate until all existing students have completed their required years of study (including leave of absence), ensuring continued course offerings to meet student learning needs.

 

  1. Existing departmental spaces (e.g., student activity or discussion spaces, library spaces, etc.) will be reasonably maintained to meet teaching needs.

 

  1. Continued support will be provided to students remaining in their original departments/institutes. If necessary, assistance will be provided to students seeking to transfer to other departments or universities to facilitate their career development.

 

  1. At least one student forum will be held each semester after enrollment is suspended, with timely responses to student inquiries and the protection of students’ rights.

 

III. Faculty and Staff Placement Planning and Counseling

 

(I) Planning and Procedures for Cease Enrollment

To address the cessation of undergraduate program enrollment, this department has convened a departmental meeting and held a public hearing for all faculty, staff, and students, in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s overall standards. These meetings addressed considerations for the cessation of enrollment, protection of students’ educational rights, and subsequent faculty and staff placement plans. All relevant procedures have been completed.

 

(II) The plan for faculty and staff placement and counseling is as follows:

This department (institute) has applied to cease enrollment for the 2026 academic year. During the initial phase of the cessation, existing faculty will continue to be responsible for existing undergraduate and master’s programs. During the transition period, faculty members may, based on the university’s overall plan, their expertise, and their personal wishes, transfer to other teaching units within the university, and administrative staff will transfer to other administrative units within the university, fully protecting the rights and interests of faculty and staff.

Timetable for handling the suspension of recruitment procedures

Serial Number Processing Procedure Processing Date
1 First Departmental Meeting of the 113th Academic Year 2024.08.15
2 Second Departmental Meeting of the 113th Academic Year 2024.09.11
3 Public hearing on suspension of recruitment 2024.09.20
4 The First Administrative Meeting of the School of Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences, Academic Year 113 2024.09.26
5 First Meeting of the School Development Committee, First Semester, Academic Year 113 2024.10.15
6 Tzu Chi University 126th University Affairs Meeting 2024.1025