UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Kingston, Rhode Island

FACULTY SENATE

March 8, 2000*

Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee

Three Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Report

Proposal for the Reorganization of the

College of Business Administration

At its meeting of February 22, 2000, the Curricular Affairs Committee considered a proposal from the College of Business Administration to reorganize the college and eliminate the department structure. The faculty of the College of Business Administration voted for the reorganization in Spring 1999; this proposal was approved by the College of Business Administration faculty on January 20, 2000.

The Curricular Affairs Committee recommends that the Faculty Senate approve the reorganization of the College of Business Administration as follows. The proposal is in the format required by the Board of Governors for Higher Education.

*as approved by the Faculty Senate on May 11, 2000

PROPOSAL FOR A REORGANIZATION OF THE

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Name of Institution

University of Rhode Island

2. Administration Unit

College of Business Administration

3. Intended Date of Initiation

July 1, 2000

4. Intended Location

University of Rhode Island

5. Institutional Review and Approval Process

	Date Approved
Faculty, College of Business Administration	January 20, 2000
Dean, College of Business Administration	January 20, 2000
Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee	February 22, 2000
Faculty Senate	May 11, 2000
President of the University of Rhode Island

6. Summary of the Proposed Organizational Change

Effective July 1, 2000, the College of Business Administration proposes to eliminate the departmental structure and appoint area coordinators. The change does not affect the undergraduate and graduate programs as listed in the University bulletins/catalogs. Faculty will continue to hold academic rank in the disciplines in which they were appointed. The College's Associate Deans will take charge of the academic program areas included in their job description and assume some of the responsibilities of the former department chairs. Appendix A includes an organizational chart of the College, a list of administrative activities with responsibilities including those responsibilities previously assigned to department chairs, job descriptions of the associate deans and assistant dean, the faculty approved job description for area coordinators and the faculty approved description of the role and responsibilities of the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee, which will be responsible for promotion, tenure and post-tenure reviews.

7. Signature of President

___________________________________

Robert L. Carothers

8. Persons to be contacted during the review

Edward M. Mazze, Dean College of Business Administration 874-4348

Blair M. Lord, Vice Provost Academic Programs and Services 874-2447

B. RATIONALE

The rationale for the restructuring is as follows.

• Flexibility in teaching assignments.

  Current structure makes it difficult for faculty members to teach courses across departmental lines.

• Flexibility in research.

  Current structure makes it difficult for faculty members to participate in interdisciplinary research.

• Better use of resources.

  Current structure places department needs over the College's.

• Change the College culture.

  The reorganization will lead to collaboration, cooperation and a re-energizing of the College.

• Better coordination of teaching schedules among academic programs.

  Under the current structure, departmental schedules often ignore College program needs.

C. INSTITUTIONAL ROLE

The role of the College of Business Administration within the University of Rhode Island structure will remain the same because the proposed changes affect the internal organization of the College.

D. INTERINSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

None

E. RESOURCES

This reorganization will be implemented without additional resources.

F. EVALUATION

The College of Business Administration will implement the reorganization plan in July 2000. The Planning Committee in the College will make recommendations to the Dean of the College regarding the effectiveness of the reorganization at the end of each academic year.

Questions and Answers

Governance:

a. Where does the responsibility rest for the curriculum and academic programs? What is the approval procedure for change in the above?

The Faculty of the College of Business Administration has the responsibility for curriculum and programs. Curricular changes will initiate at the faculty level and be forwarded to the College Undergraduate Affairs Committee or Graduate Program and Research Committee for review and discussion. These committees are composed of faculty and student members. The Committees make recommendations to the Faculty at regularly scheduled faculty meetings. The process is similar to the current one except that departmental approval will not be required.

b. Who will have responsibility for tenure and promotion decisions? What is the role of the College faculty in these decisions?

The College will follow Articles XV and XVI of the AAUP/BOG Contract with regards to tenure and promotion process. Currently, department chairs are the ones who make sure the process is in accordance with the AAUP/BOG Contract. Chairpersons who have been responsible for summarizing the peer reviews and providing recommendations. The reorganization proposes a Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee responsible for monitoring the process, summarizing the peer reviews and preparing the recommendations. The composition of the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee and the responsibilities of the Committee are identified in Appendix A.

c. Did the Faculty of the College of Business Administration have any input on the proposed reorganization?

There were three meetings of the Faculty to discuss the reorganization, and discussions have also taken place at monthly faculty meetings in Spring and Fall 1999. The Faculty voted for the reorganization in Spring 1999 and the results were two to one in favor of the reorganization (32:16).

d. Who will be responsible for the College's budget? Will the proposed areas have individual budgets?

The Dean of the College of Business Administration is responsible for the budget. The proposed areas will not have a budget.

e. Will this proposal create an additional layer of administration?

No. There will be no departments and no department chairs. Areas will be created to replace the current departmental structure. Some of the areas continue academic programs while others are interest groups for research and outreach activities. Area Coordinators will have limited responsibilities relative to that of department chairpersons (see Appendix A).

f. What efficiencies are gained by eliminating departmental structure?

The savings from the proposed restructuring will be fewer faculty reductions from teaching for administrative purposes. Any savings will be used to support the College's programs.

g. Will the proposed organization be consistent with others in the University?

The role of the College will be the same as before when it comes to service to the University.

h. Is your proposal consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the University Manual?*

We have consulted with representatives of the AAUP about the processes and procedures of the restructuring. We believe our proposal is consistent with Collective Bargaining Agreement and the University Manual. The faculty of the College has elected to assign the duties of the department chairpersons in the personnel process to a College-wide Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee and the Dean (see section 15.13, the Collective Bargaining Agreement). The Committee and the Dean will comply with annual review timetables that were the responsibility of the department chair in the current organization structure. There are sections of the University Manual which specify the role of departments and department chairs in the promotion, tenure and post tenure review process which will need to be changed to Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee Chair and/or Dean (see sections 7.30.10, 7.21.10, 7.21.11, 7.21.12, 7.21.13 and 7.22.10).

 

* See revised descriptions for the Area Coordinators and the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee.

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APPENDIX A

Flow chart is not available on the web

 

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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ADMINISTRATIVE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs

Assists and advises Dean in all matters of policy relating to the College's Undergraduate program; long-range planning involving teaching activities at the undergraduate level of the College; student recruitment, course scheduling and curriculum planning and implementation. Assists faculty advisors by providing interpretation of university and college rules and regulations; works closely with the Admissions office and the Registrar's office. Responsible for promoting College's undergraduate programs and serves as liaison with College's Undergraduate Affairs Committee. Performs other general administrative responsibilities on behalf of the Dean including accreditation activities. Part of the continuing assignment involves teaching and research.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research

Participates in all facets of planning centered on graduate programs and research activities of college. Directs all graduate programs and/or selects directors for specific graduate programs with the approval of the Dean; coordinates graduate program promotional activities; reviews and evaluates students' application materials and recommends admission of qualified candidates in conjunction with the specific program director. Directs student recruitment for programs, coordinates course scheduling, handles student problems, and insures the maintenance of academic standards. Serves as liaison with University officers responsible for graduate programs and research and with College's Graduate Affairs and Research Committee. Assists faculty in identifying research opportunities monitors all fiscal activities of the College's research centers and institutes. Responsible for promoting College's research and graduate programs. Performs other general administrative responsibilities on behalf of the Dean including accreditation activities. Part of the continuing assignment involves teaching and research.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Assistant Dean

Assist Dean in preparation and monitoring of College budget. Responsible for managing facilities including supervising clerical staff and interviewing applicants for clerical positions. Coordinate scheduling of classes with Associate Deans. Works with Undergraduate Admissions including the admission of students to College, the evaluation of transfer credit, recruiting students, certifying graduating seniors and managing the degree audit system for the undergraduate program. Responsible for College's institutional research by responding to questionnaires from accrediting agencies. Updates publications including the Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

AREA COORDINATOR DESCRIPTION (revised 5/00)

Members of each area will recommend an area coordinator to the Dean for approval. Area Coordinators will serve three-year terms and may be reappointed consistent with the bargaining agreement. Initially the number of area coordinators will be limited to the existing disciplines or areas and new areas included in the college's strategic plan. Additional areas may be proposed by petition to the faculty and the dean. Faculty members may belong to more than one area.

Area coordinators shall receive appropriate course reductions and appropriate compensation. Area coordination will be part of service responsibility to the College.

Responsibilities of area coordinators will include the following activities:

• Work with area faculty on curriculum
• Advocate and encourage research pertinent to the area
• Assist in recruiting and mentor junior faculty members
• Convene and utilize area visiting committees
• Assist College in matters of course offerings and scheduling
• Convene faculty meetings of area faculty
• When requested, serve as an ex officio member of the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee
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  COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

  FACULTY PROMOTION AND TENURE REVIEW COMMITTEE

  (FPTRC)

  (revised 5/00)

   

  Composition

  The committee will be composed of five tenure-track faculty members who will be nominated and elected each year by the faculty. An alternate member will also be nominated and elected by the faculty. All college faculty members will be eligible for nomination and election except those scheduled for promotion or tenure review. Committee members will elect a chair. Members leaving the committee may be re-nominated and re-elected. Area coordinators who are not on the committee may serve ex-officio when faculty within their areas are candidates.

  Duties and Responsibilities

  Duties and responsibilities of the College Faculty Promotion and Tenure Review Committee shall be the following:

  Tenure

• The candidate will solicit peer reviews and submit the tenure and promotion package to the FPTRC.
• The FPTRC will review a candidate's dossier and supporting materials including all annual reviews and provide written feedback to the candidate.
• The FPTRC will submit a written recommendation, with rationale and vote tallies, to the Dean for each faculty member under consideration for tenure.

  Promotion

• The FPTRC shall review a candidate's dossier and supporting materials including all annual reviews since the last promotion and provide written feedback to the candidate.
• The FPTRC shall submit a written recommendation to the Dean including rationale and vote tallies.

  Clarifications

• The Committee Chair will perform the duties and responsibilities for promotion and tenure review that are normally assigned to a department chair in the university structure.
• The Committee Chair will be responsible for overseeing the preparation of written evaluations and recommendations using peer evaluation input from all faculty members within the College of Business Administration.
• The Committee will be responsible for ensuring that its role in the College's promotion and tenure review process, including the preparation of documents, is consistent with University Manual requirements, and with AAUP contract Articles XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII ("The Annual Review," "Promotion," "Non-Renewal," and "Statement of Principles of Tenure," respectively).
• For untenured annual reviews and post-tenure reviews, the candidate will solicit faculty input, may select an advocate, and will submit materials to the dean consistent with contractual deadlines. The dean will write the review and the candidate may respond to the dean in accordance with contractual deadlines.

   

   

   

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Chart of Responsibilities

Chart on pages 39 and 40 of Faculty Senate Agenda #7 is not available on the web