Kaplan Proposes Academic Restructure

President Sheila Kaplan last week unveiled a plan to merge the three existing schools into two schools of equal size and to realign and combine disciplines and departments within the two new schools.

Under the proposal, the two new schools would be the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the School of Business and Professional Studies. "Through a realignment of schools and departments that capitalizes on academic synergies and selective reduction of administrative positions, cost efficiencies can be realized that will help the college reinvest in Metro State's primary mission of 'excellence in teaching,'" the proposal states.

The proposed restructure has been prompted by record enrollment growth and significant reductions in state funding for the college. For the eighth straight semester, headcount is expected to increase for Fall 2003, by 5 percent to 20,350. At the same time, state funding to the college continues to shrink. On July 1, Metro State will begin the 2004 fiscal year with $33.9 million in state-appropriated funds, about $12 million less than was allocated at the beginning of fiscal year 2003. The college may receive even less in fiscal year 2004, depending on the condition of the economy.

The restructure would allow the college to gain administrative efficiencies and increase the use and number of tenure and tenure-track faculty in the classroom and allow similar academic programs to work together more closely.

Feedback on the proposal to create two schools is being accepted. The proposal to create two schools would take effect July 1, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

During the summer and fall Provost Cheryl Norton will lead a process for deans, chairs, the Faculty Senate and department faculty to discuss and make recommendations for realigning and combining disciplines/departments. The second proposal, to realign and combine disciplines and departments, would take effect Jan. 1, 2004, following approval in late fall by the Board of Trustees.