The future of St. Pete College's Sign Language Interpretation Program (SLIP) is uncertain.

  • SLIP is the only program of its kind in Pinellas County
  • Fourth largest deaf community in US is here
  • St. Pete College says program 'under review'

The college is considering closing the 25-year-old program. Faculty said the fall 2017 class would be the last cohort to start the program, which would be phased out over the next few years.

"It was a shock, an absolute shock," faculty member Carol Downing said. Downing said faculty found out about the potential closing of the program from a post online that has since been taken down.

Faculty, students, graduates and members of the deaf community attended the Board of Trustees meeting last week to voice their concerns.

"I have never felt so empowered in a career choice or so certain about a career I wanted to do. And I wouldn't have been able to do that without this program," student Rachel Goette, who graduates in December, said.

Downing said the plan would be to transfer the Associate of Science degree in Sign Language Interpretation into a general degree with an emphasis in sign language. She said that would not offer the required classes needed for students to become sign language interpreters.

"Our sign language interpretation program over its history has donated over 30,000 volunteer hours to our deaf community. So to stop this program would bring that number down to zero." - Faculty member Carol Downing

She said right now, SLIP is the only program of its kind in Pinellas County.

"It would be devastating for the community," Downing said. "Our sign language interpretation program over its history has donated over 30,000 volunteer hours to our deaf community. So to stop this program would bring that number down to zero."

In a statement, a spokesperson for St. Pete College said, "The current Associate of Science degree in Sign Language Interpretation is under review. An appropriate transition for students with an interest in this field of study is being developed."

Downing said they are asking the Board of Trustees for more time to figure out the most appropriate way to move forward. Ideally, she said faculty would like to see the program expanded into a four-year bachelor's degree program.

"We bring access to a deaf community, which is the fourth largest deaf community in the United States," Downing said. "We bring access and we bring equality into situations where previously there was none."

The college said recommendations for allowing students to gain the appropriate degree to acquire certification will be presented at the June 20 Board of Trustees meeting.