The chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has announced the details of a reorganization of the institution, which faces a $46-million reduction in state funds next year.
In a lengthy memorandum, Robert C. Holub wrote that he wants to see various natural-science departments at the institution fall under a newly created College of Natural Sciences — a move that would eliminate two colleges. He also acknowledged that an earlier plan to merge the College of Humanities and Fine Arts with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences “has been accompanied by much angst from some quarters,” and in response he wants concerns about the combination to be studied further.
But with such a deficit looming, a reorganization must happen to “avoid the more deleterious option of slashing programs and departments,” Mr. Holub wrote.
Mr. Holub’s plan to streamline the institution’s structure didn’t include the much-talked-about creation of a College of Arts and Sciences, a move that was recommended in a report from a 16-member reorganization committee made up largely of department chairs. Mr. Holub wrote that such a college is “not the best fit for our campus,” in part because it would ultimately create too many layers of administration.
Reorganizing the campus is expected to save more than $1-million in administrative expenses. The university has also raised student fees, which should put a $20-million dent in its deficit. In recent cost-cutting moves, the university has already told 91 non-tenure-track faculty members that they most likely wouldn’t be reappointed next year — although some of them could be hired back, depending on how much federal stimulus money Amherst gets. And the faculty union at Amherst agreed to a one-year pay freeze last month.
The university’s Faculty Senate met yesterday to discuss the task force’s report, and Mr. Holub’s response to it.
Ernest D. May, secretary of the Faculty Senate, wrote in an e-mail message that the Faculty Senate expects to talk about the task force’s report and Mr. Holub’s plan for several weeks and then make its own recommendations by the time the semester ends, in mid-May. —Audrey Williams June
