Concerns Arise Over Proposed Administrative Mergers in Arts Departments
Faculty members from the music and theater departments have voiced significant concerns regarding the transparency of a proposed administrative merger, which claims to save $350,000 by consolidating roles under a shared director. Questions have been raised about the specifics of these cost savings and the potential impact on the departments involved.
J.D. Madsen, an associate professor specializing in scenic design, expressed skepticism about the merger’s financial benefits. He noted, “On paper, it may seem that a unifying leadership under one director could reduce duplication. But in practice, such a structure would almost certainly require additional administrative support, not less.”
Ann Marie Pollard, an assistant professor and associate director at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, highlighted the existing workload of faculty members who already juggle multiple roles. She stated, “It’s certainly true that with a shared leader, the areas identified above and many others, such as recruitment, retention, academic success, would suffer for both schools.” Pollard questioned the feasibility of further expanding responsibilities without compromising the schools’ missions.
There is also uncertainty regarding the new positions promised for the theater school, as faculty members are unclear about their roles and funding sources. Steve Kolbe, an associate professor, pointed out the potential imbalance this merger would cause, with 75% of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts students falling under one director, while the art department remains separate. “That puts them on an island,” he remarked, adding, “I would be pissed off if I was them.”
The proposal has also raised alarms in other departments, including landscape architecture. Sarah Karle, interim program director, warned of the repercussions their proposed elimination could have on other college programs. She emphasized the importance of landscape architecture courses, such as site design and water management, which are crucial for other disciplines. Karle cautioned that losing these classes might jeopardize accreditations for related programs.
Similarly, the statistics department has raised concerns about its role in supporting various degrees, especially the data science program. Christopher Bilder, a statistics professor, highlighted that 22 non-statistics majors had enrolled in a recent statistics class. “We are sending out an SOS to the world — save our stats,” he said, referencing the department’s importance.
The university’s budget reduction memo suggests redistributing statistics classes across different campus units. However, Bilder criticized this model, recalling its ineffectiveness in previous decades.
The Academic Planning Committee is scheduled to submit its recommendation to the chancellor by October 24. The chancellor will then propose a plan to the Board of Regents, with a decision anticipated by their December meeting. Any cuts will only be finalized upon board approval.
