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SCSU Task Force on Restructuring
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Restructuring Recommendation: November 26, 2003

University community: The Task Force on Restructuring is nearing the completion of its business, and will meet only once more, on Wednesday, November 26 at 8:00.  Please send any recommendations for the final draft to the committee or to any member before close of business on Tuesday the 25th.  Thank you.

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TO: Provost & Faculty Senate

FROM: TFR

SUBJECT:  Restructuring of St Cloud State University

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. 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 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 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, oversight, and authority 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.

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.

The WritePlace is an integral part of the Department of English with campus-wide responsibilities, including graduate instruction. 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 director should meet with 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  re- organization 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. Although the College of Fine Arts and Humanities functions well, because of its large size with a small administration, we recommend that the college establish a review committee to consider any re-organization of its programs that might help administratively, and that the 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  the School of Graduate Studies responsible for the School of Graduate Studies, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and Summer Sessions, contingent upon authorization of signatory power for grants to this Vice President;
  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 defining 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;

Discussion about these topics is available on the TFR website, http://www.stcloudstate.edu/tfr.

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