University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 1/1995 Reorganization considered for five UD colleges Under a proposal currently being considered, five of the University's small colleges would be merged to form two new, larger colleges. The proposed reorganization was one option recommended in October to University Provost Mel Schiavelli by several deans. The option under consideration would merge: * The colleges of Nursing and Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation into a new college for health-related issues and programs; and * The colleges of Education, Human Resources and Urban Affairs and Public Policy into a new college for public affairs, human resources and education. Currently, the University has 10 colleges: Agricultural Sciences; Arts and Science; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering; Human Resources; Marine Studies; Nursing; Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation; and Urban Affairs and Public Policy. Schiavelli outlined the proposed reorganization in a letter sent to the faculty in the colleges involved, and he has asked for review and comments on the proposal from all deans and the executive committees of the University Faculty Senate and the Chairs' Caucus. In his letter, Schiavelli said trustee bylaws call for the faculty to be "given the opportunity to consider and make recommendations on proposals originating outside the faculty regarding...changes in University organization, before final action is taken by the Board of Trustees." If approved, the reorganization would begin as soon as is practical, Schiavelli said, with the names of the new colleges to be recommended by faculty and administrators of the departments involved. A search that had begun for a new dean of the College of Education has been canceled. Earlier in the fall, the provost had questioned whether the University is organized in the way "best designed to maximize program strength and to effect the most intellectual synergy among related programs." Before asking a group of deans to recommend the most appropriate way to organize their colleges, the provost asked them to think about "whether years from now [the academic programs] will have the structure best suited to generating educational connections for students and intellectual vitality for faculty." The deans concluded that the college reorganization should "strengthen academic programs and provide new opportunities for enrichment and growth as programs build connections with each other." In their report, the deans concluded that the current colleges of Education, Human Resources and Urban Affairs and Public Policy are linked "by the common mission of being interdisciplinary pre-professional and professional programs with a policy and service orientation directed to central societal issues and challenges." The programs are complementary, the report went on, and share academic and professional values that emphasize interdisciplinary research and instruction to meet societal needs, preparing undergraduate and graduate students to provide essential community and governmental services. "The proposal for college reorganization poses many challenges and opportunities for the University as a whole as well as for the colleges that will be directly affected," Daniel Rich, dean of the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, said. "While many questions need to be addressed as the discussion of reorganization proceeds, I believe it is most important to insure that any changes serve the overriding goal of academic enrichment and that they enhance the quality of our instructional, research and service programs. "My colleagues in the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and I look forward to working with our colleagues in the colleges of Human Resources and Education to explore new possibilities that may strengthen all of our academic programs and create greater responsiveness in key areas of societal need," Rich said. Dene Klinzing, dean of the College of Human Resources, said she had been discussing the proposed merger with department chairs throughout the entire process and that the college faculty has met to discuss the proposed merger. In addition, she has written letters outlining the proposed reorganization to Human Resources Alumni Association board members and past presidents. "I believe the proposed merger will enhance program development and increase opportunities for interdisciplinary research and outreach," Klinzing said. William Stanley, interim dean of the College of Education, said the faculty plans to hold a series of meetings to discuss the implications of the proposed merger. "Our main concern is that any structural or program changes work to improve teacher education at the University," Stanley said. "There are excellent faculty in the colleges of Human Resources and Urban Affairs and Public Policy. We look forward to meeting with our colleagues in the other two colleges so that we can begin the detailed examination of the proposed merger and attempt to answer any questions or concerns our respective faculty might raise." The consolidation of the current colleges of Nursing and Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation will create a single college with a central mission related to health and fitness, the deans wrote. "The consolidation will bring together health- related professionals and scholars who have moved toward a wellness model that spans an individual's lifetime." "With the current focus on health promotion in health care reform movements, it's very timely for us to merge with a college that emphasizes healthy lifestyles and fitness," Betty Paulanka, dean of the College of Nursing, said. "Nursing faculty are looking forward to developing multidisciplinary research projects and working together to strengthen the health curricula of the University. I've been talking with the faculty of the nursing and medical technology departments throughout the process, and both groups are enthusiastic about the support we have received from the provost for this initiative. "Although we realize that change can be painful in the short run, we believe the long-term goals of such a merger will strengthen the overall mission of each college's health initiatives," Paulanka said. "I have supported this philosophy since I arrived here," D. Allan Waterfield, dean of the College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation, said. "The field of physical education has changed from when I received my training more than 30 years ago. We look at health in a different way now and it is more life- span oriented." -Cornelia Weil