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[neutralname]

<I wasn't sure where to put this, and maybe it is better in Meet & Greet, but since the proposal is to do away with Chairs, this section seemed appropriate.>

Disappearing Departments
Inside Higher Ed, May 7, 2010
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/05/07/kean

The plan, which would replace departments with schools headed by presidentially-appointed “executive directors,” has been met with renewed furor from faculty, who view it as a power grab that leaves the future of many disciplines uncertain. The university has already moved to eliminate such departments as philosophy and social work, but this plan would kill even large departments like English and biology, dividing faculty members into new organizational structures they played no role in creating.

What a nightmare.

[der_gadfly]

Reading the article makes me glad I did not get past last summers' phone interview for a Chair job there.

[bud04]

WOW!

[kedves]

I am saddened by how much damage one person can cause, even at a large institution.  If any forumites work at Kean, I am very sorry and wish you strength and hope.

[unusedusername]

This idea reeks in countless ways.

[systeme_d_]

This is the stuff of my nightmares.

My sympathies to Kean faculty.

[profxfiles]

I want to know how the president keeps his job--there is a link in the article to an older article (2005) talking about strong criticism of his leadership, yet he is still there an apparently more powerful than ever....

[nebo113]

I want to know how the president keeps his job--there is a link in the article to an older article (2005) talking about strong criticism of his leadership, yet he is still there an apparently more powerful than ever....

If faculty don't like  a prez, that makes the Trustees love him/her more!

[mirandaf]

I had the impression (not sure from where) that the 'Executive Directors of Schools' rather than departments & department chairs model had been done at some 2-year colleges, but was new to the 4-year schools. As in, Kean might be the only 4-year university in the country attempting this. Or do I have this completely wrong?