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[altim]

At my institution (SLAC), we are discussing converting an existing non-departmental interdisciplinary program into a full-fledged department, a small one for sure, but still a real department. This will involve transferring some existing faculty from their current departments to the new unit (the old departments will still exist, they'll just be down by one each), as well as hiring new faculty.  Does anyone have any experience with establishing a new department? Advice, suggestions, even warnings, would all be appreciated.

[galactic_hedgehog]

I am available for a tenure-track position.

When should I plan on moving?

[dellaroux]

Is it going to remain interdisciplinary in both structure and function, or will the department title create a new disciplinary entity?

In other words, will students still be registering for courses outside the department to satisfy major requirements, or are all their major courses going to be taught by the new departmental faculty?

Each possibility has some associated scenarios worth considering...

[systeme_d_]

So each department will lose a line?  I can't see that as being very appealing.

[altim]

Is it going to remain interdisciplinary in both structure and function, or will the department title create a new disciplinary entity?

In other words, will students still be registering for courses outside the department to satisfy major requirements, or are all their major courses going to be taught by the new departmental faculty?

In terms of the curriculum, faculty within this new department would be primarily responsible for delivering the major; students would take fewer courses in other departments. Nationally, it seems, the interdisciplinary field has become (is still becoming?) a discipline in and of itself -- one can now get a PhD in this field, and many (though certainly not all) institutions do have stand-alone departments.

[altim]

So each department will lose a line?  I can't see that as being very appealing.

Certainly from the point of view of the existing departments!

Of course, some of the faculty who would be transferred don't really count as a full line to their home departments as they are already spending a significant fraction of their load supporting the existing interdisciplinary program.

Besides losing faculty lines, these other departments may see some (small?) reduction in course enrollments, and possibly (small?) drops in numbers of majors... Something else that may not be very appealing to them.

[sinatra]

Be careful about shared and unshared meanings. Just because you and your partners in the venture might be in agreement that you should establish a "new" department, it does not follow that you and they have the SAME department in mind. Let's say you are doing a new department in Music Therapy. The Music and Psychology departments might be totally on board. But there will be problems when the Music folks find out that the psychologists don't see Music Therapy as the Music mjaor, part deux, just like they do. So get your ducks in a row with the partners first. Given how hard it is to convince faculty and administration of anything being necessary in a difficult financial time, having five or six people unified in what their vision of the NEW department MEANS is critical.

[sibyl]

The dangers I've seen center around expectations of the faculty -- in the new department, the affected departments, and the faculty as a whole.  The fear is that a new department is a gimmick designed to punish some people and/or reward others.

Be clear about expectations.  In some ways this is the same advice offered by sinatra.  Tell the music department that you don't expect them to have as many majors as they used to and you won't punish them for a decline up until X.  Give the new music therapy department a clear expectation about what has to happen before they can add a new faculty member on a visiting basis, and what has to happen before that can be converted to a tenure track line.

Be open about processes.  If the chairmanship of the department is not merely an organizational position, as it is at many SLACs, then let there be public and open competition for it.  Solicit advice from many places about tenure standards for the new department -- the new department faculty, the old departments, the tenure & promotion committee, the VPAA, and leaders of the emerging graduate programs in this field.

Finally, manage expectations upward as well, to trustees and the president.  A new major might mean new opportunities to attract students, donors, and attention, but it will take time and require resources. 

[altim]

Thanks sinatra and sibyl. Managing expectations, that's what it's all about, isn't it?

The faculty who would be in the new department, and the administration (the proposal originated with the provost, I think), seem to be on the same page; I think the next issues going forward will be around the concerns of the departments (and schools) from which these faculty would be transferred...  faculty-lines, space assignments, student enrollments, budgets...