Restructuring Recommendation: November 26, 2003

The following was submitted to Provost Spitzer this afternoon.

FINAL DRAFT

TO: Provost Michael Spitzer

FROM: Task Force on Restructuring

Co-chairs: Dennis Nunes, Andrew Larkin

SUBJECT: Restructuring of St Cloud State University

After studying the structure of St Cloud State University, conducting a number of hearings, and examining many proposals for altering the university's structure, we have concluded that the University, for the most part, is structurally sound and 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:

• We will not reorganize units over the reasonable objections of those units and without their significant input.
• We will not reorganize departments or re-roster faculty.
• We will not increase the number of administrators.
• We will not increase the number of “layers” between faculty and the Provost's office.
• We need to attend to the number of “reports” to each administrator and the number of people each employee reports to.
• We recognize differences between centralization and organization, between fragmentation and disorganization, so that we organize where programs seem disorganized and fragmented but avoid centralizing.

We recommend that you consider the following:

1. In accord with Strategic Plan Priority V: Diversity and Social Justice, 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, the Women's Center, and the Office of Jewish Communal Activities and Resources, and a representative from the Center for International Studies. This Council should meet regularly 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.
   
   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 and to enhance our efforts to promote diversity, equity, and justice. The purpose of the Council would not be to make policy but to better understand, advise, and inform the university community about diversity and equity issues. If implemented, this change will not cost the university additional resources.
2. In accord with Strategic Plan Priority I: Academic Distinction, we recommend the creation of a School of Undergraduate Studies and the appointment of a dean with responsibility for General Education, the 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, Community College Connection, the Advising Center, General Studies, Honors, and similar programs. Our intent is that coordination of General Education may help to use resources more effectively so that a better balance can be maintained between General Education and major, minor, and graduate programs. We are not suggesting that more resources should be directed to General Education; we are suggesting that coordinating and de-fragmenting General Education might lead to greater coherence and less strain on the institution in general.
   
   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. As part of its business, the college should consider the November 11, 2003, proposal, “Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning,” by Frankie Condon.
3. We recommend that the College of Science and Engineering establish a task force to consider the reorganization of its programs, and that that task force begin work immediately and have a report to the provost by the middle of the spring semester. This recommendation has been endorsed unanimously by the dean and chairs in the College of Science and Engineering.
4. Because of the large number of faculty in the College of Fine Arts and Humanities, we recommend that the college establish a task force to consider reorganization of its programs, and that that task force begin work immediately and have a report to the provost by the middle of the spring semester.
5. We recommend possible reorganization of the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA):
   1. contingent upon MnSCU authorization of signatory power for smaller grants, create a position of Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies responsible for the School of Graduate Studies, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and Summer Sessions;
   2. review moving the Associate Vice President for Budget into the OAA to report directly to the provost because there is concern that priority be given to the academic role of the university;
   3. contingent upon creation of a Dean of Undergraduate Studies, clearly define the duties of the three associate and assistant positions – for curriculum, for faculty relations, and for planning and community outreach – and reducing the number of positions to two.

We invite you to address any questions about our recommendations to either of the co-chairs. A summary of our thinking about the Ghosh and Mortimer options and about the questions asked in the charge as well as other discussions about these topics is available on the TFR website, http://www.stcloudstate.edu/tfr.