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St. Cloud State University

SCSU Task Force on Restructuring
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Restructuring Recommendation: November 19, 2003

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The Force on Restructuring plans to complete its work this Friday.  Where we are now follows:

After studying the structure of St Cloud State University and examining many proposals for altering the university's structure, we have found that the University, for the most part, is structurally stable. We do not recommend combining the two dozen or so liberal arts and sciences departments into one college, nor do we recommend the creation of a general or university college.

Among the many principles and guidelines that influenced our decisions, the following are especially important:

  • Units make their own decisions.
  • No reorganization of departments; no re-rostering.
  • No increase in the number of administrators.
  • Flat, rather than tall, structure.
  • Fewer lines of reporting.
  • Degree of centralization or decentralization of programs and responsibilities.

We recommend that you consider the following:

1. We recommend the creation of an Advisory Council for Student Diversity and Social Justice comprising at least the Directors of the American Indian Center, GLBT Services, Multicultural Student Services, Student Disability Services, and the Women's Center, the advisor of the Jewish Student Association, and a representative from the Center for International Studies. This Council should decide its own membership and should meet at least monthly to collect information, discuss the campus climate for the equitable treatment of students, and disseminate its discussions to the campus. It will advise the Vice President for Student Life and Development, the President, and the University, and will work with the Director of Affirmative Action and Social Equity and other members of the campus community. We recommend no other changes in the assignments of the directors, nor do we recommend any combination of the programs under another level of bureaucracy.

Our interviews with campus personnel and our reading of the four studies of the campus climate suggest that much more is needed to promote the success of all students, faculty, and staff; we need to enhance our efforts to promote diversity, equity, and justice. This recommendation also responds to one of the priority goals of the SCSU Strategic Plan: Diversity and Social Justice. If implemented, this change will not cost the university additional resources.

2. We recommend a Dean and School of Undergraduate Studies with responsibility, oversight, and authority for General Education, Honors, General Studies, academic support services (including the American Indian Center, Multicultural Student Services, Student Disability Services, the Academic Learning Center, the WritePlace, and the Math Skills Center), First Year Experiences, tutoring programs, Anoka-Ramsey Connection, Advising Center, and similar programs. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies, like other deans, will report to the provost. Faculty, such as the Director of the Advising Center and the Director of the WritePlace, will not be re-rostered, although a few faculty in these programs may elect to be rostered within this academic unit (and will need to form a department under the IFO-MnSCU Master Agreement ). Co-location of programs should be at the discretion of the programs.

The WritePlace should continue to be housed in the English Department, the director should be rostered in the English Department, and the WritePlace should not be required to co-locate in Centennial Hall with other academic support services. The WritePlace is an integral part of the Department of English with campus-wide responsibilities, include graduate instruction. The director will join the other academic support directors in the School of Undergraduate Studies.

3. We recommend that the College of Science and Engineering establish a task force to consider the organization of its programs, and that that committee begin work immediately and have a report to the provost by the middle of the spring semester.

4. We recommend that the College of Fine Arts and Humanities establish a review committee to consider dividing the college, and that that committee begin work immediately and have a report to the provost by the middle of the spring semester.

5. We recommend possible reorganizations of the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA):

  1. creating a position of Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies responsible for the School of Graduate Studies, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and Summer Sessions;
  2. moving University Communications to the OAA;
  3. moving the Associate Vice President for Budget into the OAA to report directly to the provost;
  4. contingent upon creation of a Dean of Undergraduate Studies,  defining clearly the duties of the three associate and assistant positions within your office and reducing the number of positions to two;
  5. identifying the Academic Council to include the provost, the associate vice presidents, and the deans and associate deans.

Please send your comments to any member of the Task Force in any form of communication, including the Task Force website at: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/tfr