Science colleges to study merger

It probably wouldn't be ethical to discuss my opinion on this matter. But I thought it was an interesting discussion to bring forward. It has actually been talked about for a while now, but this is the first time a committee has been formed from what I know. 

Thoughts?

Science colleges to study merger

University President Dan Mote backs combination of life and physical sciences schools

By Derby Cox

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Monday, February 1, 2010

A committee met for the first time Friday to discuss the possibility of combining the colleges of chemical and life sciences and computer, mathematical and physical sciences, which top administrators say will increase collaboration among departments.

Provost Nariman Farvardin formed a 12-member committee with six representatives from each college to discuss the issue. The committee was charged with deciding whether the merger is a good idea and if so, how best to proceed, according to an e-mail from the provost to the deans of the colleges.

If the committee decides the merger would not be beneficial or would be too complex to implement, according to the e-mail, the idea will be dropped. After the meeting, which Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Mahlon Straszheim said was closed, committee members either could not be reached or declined to comment about what was discussed.

Proponents of the plan, including Farvardin and university President Dan Mote, say the move would increase cross-discipline interaction between the colleges.

“My sense is that as far as research interactions between the different disciplines go, this is a step that many other universities have already taken in some sense,” said committee member Rajarshi Roy, director of the Institute for Physical Science and Technology. “This is a very common structure at some universities. This will probably enhance the interaction and facilitate the collaboration between people in different disciplines over here.”

In addition, the move could make the university more attractive to potential investors and collaborators, Mote said.

“I also think that it will position us better for partnerships with federal agencies, corporations and so on that want to deal with life sciences and computer sciences and physics together as a joint program,” Mote said.

It remains unclear what the administrative structure of the new college would look like and who would serve as its dean if the merger is approved, said Norma Allewell, dean of the chemical and life sciences college. Deciding the structure is not part of the committee’s charge, biology Chairman Gerald Wilkinson said.

Allewell said there is a lot of enthusiasm for the idea but noted some faculty have expressed concerns about the plan.

“It is the case that CMPS and life sciences have evolved in quite different ways organizationally,” she said. “The two organizations and cultures will have to be melded to some extent, so that’s the kind of thing that will have to be discussed.”

Steve Halperin, dean of the computer, mathematical and physical sciences college, declined to comment.

In Wilkinson’s department, faculty members who have more experience working with the other college are generally more receptive to the merger, he said.

“I can say that my department has faculty who span every possible take on the issue, from wildly in favor to adamantly opposed and a lot of people in between,” Wilkinson said.

Because of the wide range of faculty sentiment, Mote said the committee’s recommendations will be taken seriously.

“I’m hoping that the faculty members will decide that the troubles and the difficulties of merging the two cultures will be worth doing, and they’ll decide to do it,” Mote said. “But certainly no one gets forced into these things.”

Other members of the committee from the computer, mathematical and physical sciences college are geology Chairman Michael Brown, computer science Chairman Larry Davis, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Bonnie Dorr, Assistant Dean Dean Kitchen and astronomy Chairman Stuart Vogel.

Cell biology and molecular genetics Chairwoman Norma Andrews, chemistry and biochemistry Chairman Michael Doyle, Associate Dean Robert Infantino, biology professor William Jeffery, entomology professor Barbara Thorne and Wilkinson will serve on the committee for the chemical and life sciences college.