Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

February 13, 2004

New policy will drive college reorganization process

by Linda Charles
The Faculty Senate was assured during its Feb. 10 meeting that a new academic reorganization policy will be followed as discussion begins on combining the colleges of Education and Family and Consumer Sciences (see story).

That policy, approved Jan. 13 by the senate and accepted shortly after by President Gregory Geoffroy, calls first for discussion of any academic reorganization proposal, followed by planning. The final phase -- review -- includes a formal vote on the reorganization plan by the affected faculty. This vote, whether positive or negative, is forwarded with the plan as it goes to the provost, the senate and finally, the university president.

In response to concerns by some senators that the restructuring of the colleges is a "done deal," both senate president Jack Girton and vice president for academic affairs and provost Benjamin Allen said Geoffroy assured them he would follow the new policy.

"Calling for a plan (to reorganize the two colleges) doesn't mean the reorganization decision has been made yet," Girton said. "It could look like a good idea now, but when we look at the details, we may find things to suggest it's not so good an idea."

Sedahlia Crase said, "That's not what we heard. We were told it would happen and given a date." Her department -- human development and family studies -- is one that would be affected by a restructuring.

Allen said, "The president sees this (restructuring plan) as one that has potential. Now we need to discuss that to see if it does have that potential." He said he will appoint a committee, which will include faculty from both colleges, to begin developing a plan on how the colleges could be restructured into one.

Allen said the completion date (July 1, 2005) is what is thought to be possible if the restructuring goes through. "Anything shorter would be reckless. Anything longer and people would lose interest," he said.

Other senators questioned whether the projected savings ($500,000 to $700,000) would be enough to justify the restructuring.

Noting the university has experienced seven consecutive reductions in state appropriations over the last for years, Allen said, "Any amount of money saved in this environment is major."

Other senators worried that the savings would send the wrong message to the Legislature. "If we have a plan that saves $500,000, does that give a message to the Legislature that we can do without that $500,000?" asked Greg Palermo, architecture.

Allen responded, "We haven't been able to demonstrate need (in the past) in terms of money coming our way. The way to deal with this (economic environment) is to be proactive."

Girton noted that since the call for a restructuring plan comes from the president, "If Geoffroy still thinks it's a good idea when it gets to his desk, he'll approve it."

Now is the time for faculty to raise concerns and present convincing arguments about those concerns, he added.