BOSTON

Northeastern University is purging its communications and journalism program of instructors who lack doctorates in a move students say is motivated by the university’s quest to improve its U.S. News & World Report ranking.

The university recently implemented a new policy requiring faculty to hold the highest degree in their field. The policy has mostly affected the College of Arts and Sciences’ schools of communications and journalism, where 10 professors have been notified that their contracts would not be renewed.

Dr. Susan Powers-Lee, the university’s executive vice provost, says the policy is part of the university’s academic investment plan, created by its former president, Dr. Richard M. Freeland, and executed by the new president, Dr. Joseph E. Aoun.

“Although other kinds of instructors can bring very valuable qualities to the classroom, fulfilling every aspect of our teaching model requires teachers who hold an advance degree, and who themselves are deeply committed to the generation of knowledge in their field,” says Powers-Lee. 

One of the first professors whose termination was publicized on campus was Susan E. Picillo, who has been at the university for 10 years and nominated twice for the Excellence in Teaching Award, as reported in the Northeastern News, the student newspaper.

Picillo could not be reached for comment, but she told the newspaper that she was shocked when she received her letter of termination and was told her contract, which expired earlier this month, would not be renewed for the upcoming school year.

Students reacted to the news by holding a rally on behalf of the professors. Several students started online petitions urging the university to “support exceptional teachers.”

Out of the top 100 national colleges and universities, Northeastern ranks 98, according to the U.S. News’ list. Robert Morse, U.S. News’ director of data and research, says the “percent faculty with top terminal degree” is worth 3 percent of the total ranking.