Ohio University's top academic administrator will rule today on eight restructuring proposals submitted to her earlier this month as part of the academic restructuring of the College of Health and Human Services.
Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit asked committees and departments within the college to outline possible moves to different colleges, and to include expected costs and savings for the university in the report.
Benoit said she was finishing going over the reports this weekend and hoped to offer feedback today.
There will be more discussion
Benoit said, adding that the proposals will help departments avoid overlooking the logistical changes involved in reorganization. Some will move more quickly through the process than others.
The initial proposals focus on costs associated with the moves. Benoit told the Board of Trustees earlier this month that the cost for each proposal must be the same or less than current programs.
After reviewing the proposals, Benoit will tell committees whether they can move on to Part 2 - a much more in-depth analysis of the number of students, staff, offices, classrooms, etc. each program will need, as well as curriculum options - or to resubmit an edited version of Part 1. Part 2 proposals are due by Nov. 24.
OU's 17 academic deans called for reorganization of the college in a report last March. But, due to complaints about a lack of faculty input in the report, Benoit decided over the summer to consult further with faculty committees for feedback and ideas over the summer.
A major portion of the reorganization is the creation of an Academic Health Center, which combines the College of Osteopathic Medicine, clinical service groups from various OU departments, University Medical Associates and the College of Health and Human Services, among other programs.
Three out of the other seven programs discussing a move submitted proposals involving a move to the College of Education: early childhood education, family studies and a new unit to be called recreation and sport pedagogy, which would consist of coaching education, physical education and recreation studies.
Although most departments seemed neutral or enthusiastic about their proposals, early childhood education expressed serious concerns about moving into the College of Education.
While there are a number of benefits to this move it has become obvious to the early childhood faculty that this will be more than just a simple relocation but it will require philosophical changes in the mission and vision
stated an addendum to the proposal. The desire of the early childhood program is to remain as a unit in the School of Human and Consumer Sciences
wherever that unit ultimately resides.
Other programs looking to switch colleges are interior architecture, which plans to move to the College of Fine Arts, and sports administration, which is hoping to move to the College of Business.
eg349206@ohiou.edu
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Emily Grannis
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