advice

[kell]

So, all you wonderful academic types, I have a question for 
you.  In academia, what happens when a department has its 
graduate program shut down?  I have been told by survivors 
that it is not good.  It is a sign that there was something 
wrong with the department--it's read that way, anyway, even 
though it may not be objectively true.  However, others 
have said that this isn't necessarily the case. It will all 
depend on the individual and their ability to demonstrate 
themselves capable of quality work in terms of a scholarly 
research program.

I took the word of a friend, too, that was a survivor of 
the Wash U closing. And someone else from Rochester's 
closing.  She found that it was nothing but bad news to be 
affiliated with that department that closed -- IF you 
wanted to work in academia.

Given that it happens rarely, it seems that it might be a 
good idea to ask people from other fields.

TIA

kell