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[tenure_track]

I know the answer to this is simply STFU.  But it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

My chair required me to join the committee to create a new program in Schmancy Studies (hereafter SS) at my uni.  There is a very well known, well established program in SS within commuting distance of our univ, at Neighboring U, that charges about 1/4 the tuition.  The Dean commissioned a market research study that came back with the clear recommendation not to pursue this new SS program unless we can find some way of differentiating ourselves from Neighboring U.

In today's meeting, our Dean (the one who is evaluating me for reappointment this fall) made it clear that he wants to have a new program in SS at our univ, but that he will not give us new faculty lines or new space to house it, nor is he willing to set up paid internships for the students.  Essentially we are being asked to create a new program with our existing resources, and to recruit students into it (who might otherwise be majors in our own home depts) who will have no good job prospects afterward, because Neighboring U has all the connections to internships that help their graduates get jobs.  Furthermore, this might require me to teach totally new courses in SS to fulfil requirements for this major, which could mean new preps for me during my last year pre-tenure.  I'm hoping the new program won't be up and running within a year but who knows - this Dean is very determined.  Today he said he's been trying to push this through for 15 years and he wants to have his way soon.  He doesn't care that a majority of the committee members (all senior except me) have objections to this plan.

I know, I must STFU during the meetings, and I have been doing so admirably, so much so that my name hardly appears in the minutes.  There's really not much I can say that won't make the Dean hate me, since he doesn't want to hear any objections to his pet project.  But should I say something to my Chair about my reservations about this project?

[dept_geek]

STFU. Go work on a paper or something. But STFU.

Besides, Deans in flames is something to behold.

[kaysixteen]

STFU is good professional advice, and I am sure the OP will take it, but I wonder, who will speak for the future SS students at his uni's incipient overrated and overpriced SS program, who will be essentially the victims of fraud.  There are simply too many grad and professional programs in most disciplines in this country these days, and many students are being taken for a ride, unethically so.

[dr_coffee]

IMHO: Put your head down and STFU.

Tell him and others that you are too junior to fully appreciate the situation, or that you have not been at the University long enough to understand the market and departmental implications. Heck, tell them that you have some sort of horrid bacteria that causes you to have frequent nose bleeds/ dizzy spells and just pinch your nose and run to bathroom when you are asked a question.

Besides, a Dean in flames is lovely to toast marshmallows over...

[ursula]

You have a major project you're working on, that is going to be the making of your promotion/tenure application and bring fortune and glory to your institution.  They'll never argue with a research agenda.

And second (or third, or fourth) the pleasure in watching a dean implode!  It's one of nature's miracles.

[iomhaigh]

I love the following phrase:

"I still do not feel like I truly understand the campus culture here well enough to be able to comment on that question."

Sometimes I will follow up with broad questions that then reveal the two main answers to that question to show that I am thinking and engaged and pondering which answer is the preferred answer; in doing so, I do not actually have to answer the question. 

I like to call this the "non-commital but participatory STFU" approach to CYA. 

[katherineparr]

Are you likely to outlive the Dean? Especially given his/her unfortunate interest in this doomed program?

You could volunteer to participate in any kind of strategic planning/program guideline writing/BS report generating and simply wash along with the process of writing administrative hoo hah.

By the time the plan is in place, students admitted, etc., perhaps said Dean will be long gone and everyone can agree to drop it.

[polly_mer]

He doesn't care that a majority of the committee members (all senior except me) have objections to this plan.

If senior people are objecting, the situation is covered.

Keep your head down and focus on something that will benefit you.

[kaysixteen]

The OP did say  this dean had been trying to get this program approved for fifteen years, so he probably ain't going nowhere fast.

[malvolio]

Yes, since the senior people are objecting, you don't need to worry about the future SS students (hopefully there won't be any). You might, at most, after a meeting, compliment one of the senior objectors after the meeting ("your point about how this plan is insane was very articulate") so they know you are in agreement, but STFU-ing. But no more.

Do you have a significant other? If so, warn him/her that you will need a block of ranting time after these meetings and then rant away to get it out of your system.

[ploughandstars]

Aye a plan. To paraphrase a current TV commercial....

"Talk a good game and fold like a lawn chair."