Transition Team Meeting
July 3, 2008, 2:30 p.m.
Bilger 242
Present:
| Thomas Bingham | Joseph O'Mealy | Alan Teramura |
| Dick Dubanoski | Ned Shultz | Hye-Ryeon Lee |
| John Mayer (for Joel Cohn) | Shankar Subramanian | Jerry Russo |
| Takeo Kudo | Noel Kent | Carol Karimoto |
| Lynne Higa (for Mike Kirk-Kuwaye) |
I. Minutes of June 26, 2008 Meeting
- correction on page 2, under Model B, 5th bullet:
- change School of Visual and Fine Arts
to School of Performing, Visual, and Fine Arts
II. Discussion Notes
Noting that this was the tenth meeting of the Transition Team, Convenor Alan Teramura thanked committee members for their commitment, time, and effort. Recognizing the unevenness in backgrounds of the team members, there was a steep learning curve for some to gain an understanding of how things work/operate.
The transition team's charge was to look at academic structures that would make sense for a single Arts and Sciences unit. Basically all the structures discussed previously can be categorized into one of three models:
- A. Academic Model: Executive Dean and the academic divisional deans similar to the current existing five units.
- F. Functional Model: Executive Dean and clusters based on functionalities (i.e., undergraduate education, research and graduate education, administrative, outreach and alumni affairs)
- AF. Academic and Functional (Hybrid) Model: Executive Dean with both functional deans and academic clusters headed by deans (though not necessarily the current academic clusters)
During last week's discussion the point was brought up that the issues that cut across all models need to be addressed (for example, governance issues). The concern may not be the models per se, but what functions are going to be governance issues.
Proposal that three subcommittees be formed and report back to the group the pros and cons of each model described above. When these are presented to the faculty, it would be good to have gone through various arguments and include the different possible perspectives. Model F was suggested so that people could understand what functions need to be addressed.
Instead of subcommittees, members volunteered to develop pros and cons of the basic models and make a brief presentation at next week's meeting:
- Model A - Academic Units: Shankar Subraminian
- Model F - Functional Units: Hye-Ryeon Lee
- Model AF - Academic and Functional Units: Takeo Kudo
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The Chancellor's Working Group (WG) met last week and worked on the job description for the dean's position listing broad responsibilities that will need further condensing. The group would like to bring the description to the Transition Team for feedback.
A TT member asked if the Dean's main function in the job description is fundraising or for day-to-day operational functions (internal academic affairs). It is felt that the structure will determine the focus for the job description.
Peter Quigley, co-convenor for the WG, would like the WG and TT to meet in a plenary session. The TT would like to meet with the Chancellor before arranging a meeting with the WG.
The TT should prepare some specific questions for the Chancellor that it would like addressed. Examples:
- What title will the position hold?
- What will the reporting structure be - direct to Chancellor instead of via the VCAA?
- What is the projected timeline and rationale (need to wait for faculty to be back on duty)?
- What is the rationale for the reorganization?
- What will happen with the suggestions that come from this committee?
- What additional resources, for example for hiring, will be available?
- Will there be a commitment for the resources?
The questions should be given to the Chancellor before she comes to a TT meeting in order to be fair to her and to allow for thoughtful responses.
Two points:
- It is important to get the structure down as soon as possible.
- It is important the Chancellor understands our reason(s) for reorganizing.
III. Focus for Next Meeting
- title(s) for
Executive Dean
- questions for the Chancellor
- pros/cons for three models.
IV. Next Meeting:
Thursday, July 10, 2008
2:30 p.m.
Bilger 242
Nancy Fujii, 7/7//2008