blog

Kean University may soon eliminate all but one academic department, replacing them with academic colleges. While faculty members argue the proposal is an attempt to consolidate power, administrators argue is necessary to trim costs. 

The plan, which could be put in place this summer, would replace academic departments headed by faculty chosen chairs with a smaller number of schools headed by presidentially appointed executive directors. 

While the administration argues the plan is necessary to fill a budget hole that could be as high as $17.7 million, faculty members argue the plan could wind up costing the University money.  Thus far, the plan does not include budget figures. 

The faculty members contend that administrators are pushing the plan in order to reduce faculty power on campus. 

They further argue that the plan will create logistical and accreditation problems. Under the plan, composition would be in a different school than the English department that created it and the Bachelor of Science programs in some disciplines would be in separate schools from the Bachelor of Arts programs, despite being taught by the same faculty members.

More from Inside Higher Ed